About Milorganite

I've been using Milorganite Fertilizer for over a decade to fertilize just about everything in my outdoor landscape and container plantings, including: shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, ornamental grasses, tropicals and the lawn. Milorganite is great for rejuvenating old, burnt-out lawns.

Don't let the low numbers in the analysis, 6-2-0, fool you. Milorganite is also packed with other essential nutrients and minerals your plants require for optimum growth and performance.

Though Milorganite is a very safe fertilizer, what I don't use it on is edible plants such as vegetebales, fruits and herbs or indoor plants. I use a 100% OMRI Certified organic fertilizer for anything that will end up on the dinner table. That being said, Milorganite meets U.S. "Exceptional Quality" standards - the most stringent regulations in the fertilizer industry, and this means it's safe for use in vegetable gardens, orchards, and other food gardens.

Otherwise, when it comes to fertilizer any other kind of outdoor plant, it's Milorganite...for several very good reasons:

• It's a great fertilizer that can be safely used on so many different types of plants and the lawn
• It's mild and non-burning. I can use it on anything in the middle of summer without any worries
• It's slow release and long-lasting releasing mineral and nutrients over a 10 to 12 week period.
• It provides uniform growth and establishes strong root systems
• It contains naturally occurring iron that helps for deep greening of foliage
• No need to worry about groundwater or well contamination. The phosphorus in Milorganite is non-leaching.
• The slow release formula stays in the root zone, even on sandy soils and even with frequent watering.
• And, last but not least, it helps to repel deer!

Application

Though Milorganite is a natural, non-burning fertilizer there are some basic guidelines for usage and application.

Lawns (All types) - 36 lbs per 2,500 square feet in spring, early summer, and late summer / early fall.

Annual Flower Beds - Mix 3 lbs. (9 cups) of Milorganite per 100 sq. ft. into the soil when preparing a flower bed. When flower buds form, apply an additional 2 lbs. of Milorganite per 100 sq. ft. around plants.

Perennials - Apply 5 lbs. (15 cups) of Milorganite per 100 sq. ft. in spring. After that, fertilize plants individually after they bloom or have been cut back. Cease fertilization two months prior to first frost date in your area.

Roses - Apply 2 lbs. (6 cups) of Milorganite per 100 sq. ft. in spring. After that, fertilize plants individually after they bloom or have been cut back. Cease fertilization two months prior to first frost date in your area.

Daylilies - One cup (1/3 lb.) Milorganite around each mature plant.

Trees: Established - 5 lbs. (15 cups) per inch of trunk diameter. For best results, pour into holes (1” wide x 12-15” deep) spaced 2 feet apart along the drip line of the tree. For deciduous trees, extend a few feet beyond the drip line.

Trees: Newly Planted - 1/2 lb. per foot of tree height. Loosely mix with soil removed from the planting hole prior to inserting transplanted tree. Three months later, hand spread an equal amount of Milorganite slightly past the drip line.

Shrubs: Established - For individual shrubs, apply 1 lb. of Milorganite per shrub in the root area. Or, 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Scatter uniformly over the soil surface.

Shrubs: Newly Planted - 1/2 lb. per foot of shrub height. Loosely mix with soil removed from planting hole prior to inserting shrub.

Fruit Trees - 1 lb. per tree per year of age. Do not apply more than 16 lbs. per tree per year. Annual fertilizer applications are usually sufficient for good fruit yields.

Vegetable Gardens

Prior to planting: 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Rototill or work into soil with a hoe.

Halfway through growing season: 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Rototill or work into soil with a hoe, between planted rows, to revitalize your garden.

*For best yields of root crops (potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, turnips, etc.), also apply a supplemental fertilizer containing potassium.

Strawberries

First year: 1 lb per 100 sq. ft. bed. Apply when plants begin to form runners. Re-apply the same amount when flower buds begin to appear.

Bearing years: 6 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. bed. Apply in the spring, only if plants do not show vigor. Otherwise, apply 1-1/4 lbs. after harvest and again in early August. Do not fertilize after Labor Day.