Plant Help from Kelp

Looking for the perfect all-purpose food for your perennials, herbs, shrubs, roses, and fruit trees? Phil Boise of Goleta, California, has concocted an organic mix that keeps his plants healthy and productive all year. Phil and his wife, Ellen McLaughlin, sell organically grown plants, organic pest controls, fertilizers, and seeds at Island Seed and Feed in Goleta. "Don't skimp on the kelp," Phil says. He uses only coldwater harvested kelp. "It has a lower salt content and a better nutrient, hormone, and mineral percentage." He's found that kelp also helps to improve the pest and disease resistance of his plants.

Ingredients and Supplies
1 part kelpmeal
2 parts alfalfa meal
4 parts any combination cottonseed meal, fish meal, and/or soybean mea
1 part rock phosphate
Dust mask
Gloves
Safety goggles

Directions
1. Mix all ingredients thoroughlywhile wearing a dust mask, gloves, and safety goggles.
2. Use up to 3 cups for each mature rosebush, perennial, or shrub. For annuals and herbs, use only up to I|A cups. For midsize fruit trees, you can apply up to 6 cups.
3. Apply 2 or 3 times a year.

Recycled plastic containers like yogurt cups make perfect scoops for measuring fertilizer ingredients in "parts." When mixing ertilizers, wear gloves and a dust mask to protect your skin and to avoid inhaling fine dust particles.