Are we talking about regular old Black-eyed Susans? Rudbeckia hirta (guessing on the spelling). Do the plants look healthy? lots of dark green leaves? The pH on these samples are on the acid side but I didn't think that would bother Rudbeckias - you see them blooming in the wild in some pretty acidic areas. Phosphorus above 100 is okay, so only the front yard box is low, I don't know how to feel about the 510 in the hydrangea box. Do they bloom? Just know that mineral problems happen with very high or very low pH but those problems are about absorption and these test are on the soil. I would think you don't need to fertilize with anything that includes phosphorus for a while on that box. My guess would be that the soil in the boxes is too rich, I grow mine in wimpy sandy soil. I think they bloom better in improved soil but I think those beds are only slightly improved. Some of the other types of Rudbeckias do better in improved soil. Are they getting a lot of light? I've seen them bloom in half day light but it was blazing hot half day light. Some of the other types bloom in the shade. Is there any chance that something like a rabbit is eating the flower buds?

Are
we talking about regular old Black-eyed Susans? Rudbeckia hirta (guessing on
the spelling).

Good
spelling. :) Pretty much...I have regular ones, Irish Eyes, and children of
Tiger Eyes...but all are hirtas.

Do the plants look healthy? lots of dark green leaves? The pH on these samples are on the acid side
but I didn't think that would bother Rudbeckias - you see them blooming in the
wild in some pretty acidic areas .

Definitely...some
are VERY large. A few have brown leaves right now, but that has pretty much only
been in the last week or two. For the most part, they are VERY green.
Interestingly enough, some that are also in their second year and planted at my
daughter's school (so different soil conditions) are also not blooming this
year. Do they sometimes just wait until third year? Many people have given me
weird looks/comments when they find out they are not blooming.

Phosphorus above 100 is okay, so only the front yard box is low.

Whew....that
makes me feel better. How about the potassium?

I don't know how to feel about the 510 in the hydrangea box. Do they bloom?

Pretty good...maybe
less this year. They do not bloom as nice as I would like since only the new
wood buds, but it was a pretty good bloom this year, considering. They certainly
look VERY healthy. They grew a lot this year, too (I think this is their 4th
year here). That crazy high phosphorus is really weird. That is the one box I
leave willow oak leaf mulch in....would that contribute? I hope not, b/c I love
having that on top of all of the boxes for the winter.

Just
know that mineral problems happen with very high or very low pH but those
problems are about absorption and these test are on the soil. I would think you
don't need to fertilize with anything that includes phosphorus for a while on
that box.

I am
thinking no phosphorous and no potassium (or very little) on any for a few
years, but I will do another test in the spring (and maybe next fall, too). I
do have fish fertilizer that is 5-1-1...hopefully, that will not raise the Ph
or K much. It is pretty nice stuff. :)

My guess would be that the soil in the boxes is too rich, I grow mine in wimpy
sandy soil. I think they bloom better in improved soil but I think those beds
are only slightly improved. Some of the other types of Rudbeckias do better in
improved soil.

With it
being Miracle Gro soil (though all but the front boxes are 3-4 years old), that
could very well be it. That has been the most logical explanation I have heard
so far. Maybe it is way too nice. I think that is why I cannot get irises to
bloom, too.

Are
they getting a lot of light? I've seen them bloom in half day light but it was
blazing hot half day light. Some of the other types bloom in the shade.

Yep...plenty
of light...most get 6-8 or more hours a day. :)

Is there any chance that something like a rabbit is eating the flower buds?

I doubt
it...we do not have much of a rabbit or squirrel population in my yard. They
are afraid of my dog. lol Good thing to check, though.

So, it
basically sounds like other than the 510 phosphorus, nothing there is super
alarming? I do have various things that just do not bloom until their 3rd
or 4th year. I also sometimes buy things that bloom the first
year...but not after that (such as Kniphofia, a Rudbeckia Irish Eye—one rebloomed,
and one did not-- and Salvia May Knight). I do have some seedlings (like Salvia
nemorosa) that have barely grown more than an inch or two this spring/summer,
but I figure they may be making good roots right now. I am hoping the fish fertilizer (I will apply
next week and then start again in spring) will help.

Thank you
for your thorough analysis and comments...I was especially hoping you would respond. I REALLY appreciate it, as this has
been driving me nuts.

It does seem that Black-eyed Susans have to reach a certain size in order to bloom, but they most often get there sooner than your's are. The root clump is maybe a foot across on mine and they bloom but I wouldn't say they bloomed their heads off this year. Maybe last winter had an effect of bud formation. Did you grow these from seeds? I've never done that so I don't know how long they take to bloom when seed grown.

I also sometimes use Miracle Grow media. Almost all the bagged soils in this part of the country are pine bark based - it's just too cheap to ignore by the soil companies. I love it as a base but it breaks down into sticky black gunk within two years. If the bags on the shelf are old it can have this quality when you first open them. I like to blend in a bag of pine bark fines or the smallest chips of pine bark you can find. It is usually the cheapest stuff on the shelf and sometimes labeled 'soil conditioner'. It also breaks down in a couple of years so you have to constantly add it every year or so. Water Oak or Willow Oak leaves are one of my favorites and make a wonderful mulch (I mostly like the way they spin and spiral as they fall from the tree in autumn). If you dig down into the bed and the soil is black and rich then I don't think you need to fertilize or amend in any way except maybe some sand or native soil (even red clay if you can work it in).

Yep, mine are from seed. Maybe they will bloom next year. :) I am so glad we are getting all of this rain!

Actually, pretty much my entire raised boxes (all roughly 200 square feet) are Miracle Gro Garden Soil. I just found out that was not supposed to be good...whoops. The soil, though, is still pretty good...I think. I like to refresh it when I plant something new, but what I pull out usually seems pretty nice, albeit possibly a little dry or fluffy (not sure if that make sense). I am not sure that I would say it is black, but I will take a closer look next week (since I am sure it is nice and black now with all this rain). Pine bark...so that is what those occasional huge chips are. lol Thanks for your help and reassurances.