I put bone meal around all my perennials in the Fall & Spring. I think that gives them a good start. I have never used cottonseed meal but cant see what the difference would be, unless there is something in there that would affect them. I dont mulch everything, just certain ones but they seem to do alright. Tricia

hey donnab ... you ready???

they are NOT your children.. or grandchildren..

they do not need to be fed..

bathed

clothed...

educated ...

diapered..

depenzed ...

detoxed

addicted ...

etc ...

add a little compost.. if you wish... but otherwise.. let mother earth take care of them ...

in another life.. i killed a lot of things.. by applying fert to heavy in fall .. plants need to be hardening of for winter.. not growing above the ground ...

I WOULD PREFER YOU SKIP IT ...

but if you insist ... go VERY LIGHT... and go toward something like 6-24-24 .. or 2-3-4 ....

i would bet a shiny penny.. if you did half your garden.. spending $20.. and left the other without..

that you would tell no difference next year ...

spend your money on plants... not foo foo.. snake oil FOOD ... UNLESS A SOIL TEST INDICATES SOMETHING IS LACKING FROM YOUR SOIL ...

PLEASE STEP DOWN FROM THE SOAPBOX.. AND MOVE ALONG.. LOL

ken

Despite Ken's vehemence to the contrary, relatively shallow rooted, heavy blooming plants like perennials (and roses, lilies, clematis) often need a nutrient supplement, unless you mulch with a high nutrient source material like compost. This is rather different from woody plants -- trees and shrubs. And because the roots of most plants are in very active growth in the fall, that's a perfect time to do so. You should focus on a low nitrogen fertilizer if you do, so as not to stimulate too much new growth before cold weather. As organic fertilizers go, cottonseed meal is on the higher end of things for supplying nitrogen. And it is an acidifier, which may or may not be a concern. I'd go with the bone meal before the cottonseed meal but would really recommend a blended fertilizer first, like Espoma's Garden Tone (3-4-4). If you can, keep the nitrogen (first number) lower than the other two.

My comments are in the other recent post re: fall fertilizing. ;0) (should be somewhere down on page 1 or 2 of posts)

The only fertilize I use in the fall is potash, mainly Begonias and Dahlias about 6 weeks before digging and storing for the winter.

Annette

Okay! Thanks, folks. Ken, although I usually agree with you, on this one I cannot. My growing season begins in early March and goes until early to mid November. The first ten years I grew perennials I followed the philosophy you espouse, which most gardening books do, but as time passed, my gardens were less and less beautiful. It is simply different here. I do use compost and manure. But I have also seen a marked difference in my plantings since I began giving my plants an annual fertilizer (organic and mild).
You all have given me a good reminder to go easy on the nitrogen in the fall, however. I guess I will just continue with my early spring push, sprinkle, push routine. Thanks to all. (You too, Ken :)

My gardens are becoming too extensive to leave everything to the spring so I'm glad you asked this question and grateful for the answers received.