Top-dressing perennial beds with a blend of soil conditioner, mushroom compost, and steer manure is an excellent practice for maintaining soil structure and fertility. Two amendments can further optimize this mix: lime and cottonseed meal.
Garden soils naturally acidify over time due to rainfall, organic matter decomposition, and fertilizer applications. Periodic lime applications counteract this acidity, keeping soil pH in the optimal range for nutrient availability.
Cottonseed meal provides slow-release nitrogen and organic matter, feeding plants steadily over months rather than weeks. It's an excellent long-term nutrition source for perennials.
Mix 1 cup of lime and 1 cup of cottonseed meal into every 2 cubic feet of your top-dressing blend. Apply this enriched mixture around plants in fall, when cooler temperatures and autumn rains help incorporate amendments naturally. Your perennials will emerge in spring with a nutrient reserve that supports vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
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