I use Miracle Grow some years but not every year. It is cheaper than most and works. It needs to be applied at least a month or more before bloom season as I understand it.

Brad

The myth of bloom booster fertilizer: https://www.gardenmyths.com/bloom-booster-fertilizer-nonsense/

In short, it doesn't work as intended and can actually cause soil issues and a mineral imbalance. Instead use a regular all-purpose fertilizer in spring - that's all.

Thanks, gardengal. I'll skip it, at least for this year, and see if it makes a difference.

Brad, I do use Miracle Gro but only for annuals in containers.

I use Espoma Flower Tone. My heavy clay soil is nutrient poor--some plants didn't flower at all and many just barely. The Flower Tone has made a huge difference.

Of course, I use mulch and autumn leaves as much as possible.

The myth of bloom booster fertilizer: https://www.gardenmyths.com/bloom-booster-fertilizer-nonsense/

Robert Pavlis is a local Ontario gardener and quite popular with his "Garden Myths" blog but he lost me as a reader when he came out with his "The Climate Change Myth" edition.

I put Fish emulsion in the fall and Osmocote in March but March was too hot this year and I am sure it will show in my blooms. This was recommended ny Dan Trimmer who was a hybridizer in Florida for years.