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Fish Blood and Bone - powder or pellets

JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
in Problem solving
hi, was just interested in whether people had a preference for FBB in powder or pellets?  I prefer the pellets but could only buy it online last year.  The GCs round here only sold the powder stuff.  Do you reckon they are as good as each other?
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've only ever used powder.
    I wonder if there's a danger of over application with the pellets though?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Do you just grab a handful and tickle it in around the plant then @Fairygirl ?  Or do you measure it out calculating how much to use?  I’m more of a grab a handful and chuck it on person
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I just use a tiny amount sprinkled around the plants, if I use it. I don't measure anything.
    I mostly use it when planting something new, and not much apart from that, as I tend to add organic matter to the soil more than anything. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I buy a 25Kg bag of BFB powder then in early Spring I chuck handfuls of it over all the flower borders and the soft fruit and veg beds (and sometimes my lawn too) and repeat in early summer.

    I've found that putting a small handful around each plant takes forever and also encourages foxes (and my dog) to have a nibble. If there's a light dusting over everything they don't seem so interested.
    I try and time it so there's rain shortly after spreading.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I prefer to grow my plants quite hard @Pete.8. Lots of soft, lush growth is always a bad idea here  ;)
    My garden is more shrub based too, as it's better for my conditions and climate.
    The soil is clay though, so there's a fair amount of nutrients in it. I tend to save feeding for heavy flowerers - annuals and clematis etc. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • greatnorthernexoticgreatnorthernexotic Posts: 119
    I've only ever used powder but I imagine the pellets will give you a slower release as they break down?
    Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
    INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I expect that would also be down to the climate and soil though @plantbloke.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2022
    I do the same as @Pete.8 ... a bit of a general sprinkle  ... but I use whichever I've been able to get my hands on ... I then tickle it into the soil surface with a rake or hoe and it's almost disappeared, even the pellets, after a couple of heavy showers ... and we get plenty of those at this time of year. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Thanks for all your opinions/advice.  I’ll invest in some this weekend and start spreading it around, together with a mulch if I can manage it 😧
  • NorthernJoeNorthernJoe Posts: 660
    I only use it when planting things in the base of b the hole then tickle it into the soil before planting. 
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