>> More application recommendations for different growing scenarios
Annuals & Perennials:
Place a handful of castings into each hole as you plant. use 1/2 cup for smaller plants, more for larger plants. Cover and blend with soil or planting mix. Also, apply castings four times per year, at the rate of 10 lbs. per 100 sq. ft., or once a year at the rate of 20-30lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. For planting beds, mix six inches of compost into the soil. Add castings at the rate of 20lbs. per 1000sq. ft.
Roses, Trees, Shrubs, Berries, and Other New or Transplanted Ornamentals:
Mix one part Worm-Cast to 3-4 parts potting soil, planting mix, or organic compost. Keep in mind that Worm-castings are very potent and there is no need to over do it.
Castings mixed at a 1 to 3 ratio: 33% castings
Castings mixed at a 1 to 4 ratio: 25% castings
Established Plants, Potted Plants (indoors or out) and Other Specimens:
Side dress during the growing season at the rate of 1/2 cup per 6" pot, or one cup per linear foot of row once every two months.
Lawns - New
Apply Worm-Cast at the rate of 20-30lbs. per 1000 sq.ft. of lawn area. Work lightly into the topsoil. Mix in grass seed, cover with shredded straw, and moisten.
Lawns - Established
Use a lawn spreader (yes, Worm-Cast is dry enough to spread even with a hand-held whirly bird type spreader) applied at the rate of 4-6lbs. per 1000 sq.ft. Repeat every 45 days during the growing season. Another very acceptable methodology is to "top dress" once per year at the rate of 20-30lbs. per 1000 sq.ft. This is only a very thin layer of castings. We have had good success with "top dressing" by pre-mixing Worm-Cast with a good quality organic compost or soil amendment at the rate of one part Worm-Cast to four parts organic compost.
Remember that Worm-Cast is safe to use and will not burn plants in any concentration. Best results are obtained by using Worm-Cast sparingly.