Mary Stella, I used around 1/4-1/2 cup per plant for peonies, roses and daylilies and between 1/2 to 1 cup for the larger trees.
I can see why having Strontium as an ingredient would be a concern as it's most commonly associated with nuclear detonations and radioactivity. It is also a naturally occurring non-radioactive element that is a part of every human's bones and is used in treating osteoarthritis and is thought to possibly be a treatment to boost formation of collagen and cartilage in joints. No, I didn't know that before I looked it up a few minutes ago....!!!!
A lot of Azomite chemical testing was done here in CO so we hear a lot about it in local forums. Nothing that I've read or heard has made me have any concerns about health risks to me or to my plants (who knows what'll be publicized tomorrow though, right?) but I'm certainly open to other, more simple and less expensive means to get the same result.
Karen, I agree a test would be great! Unfortunately I've already treated my oldest beds and don't think I have any peonies that I can divide and do comparisons on. I do have a long but narrow raised bed that I could segregate plants in...maybe I'll try it with divided daylily instead of a peony. How far apart do you think they'd have to be to keep the non-treated plant from being contaminated by the other 2? Since the bed is raised I could probably put the divisions in large pots and sink them into the soil 2-3' apart, do you think that would work?
