Cottonseed Meal – In Garden

Q: Will cottonseed meal from a feed store work the same as the cottonseed meal I purchased from a garden center? It is much cheaper at the feed store.

A: They are exactly the same thing. Products sold for fertilizer must be analyzed for their nutrient content, which adds to their cost. Labeling requirements for animal feed are not so stringent. I use cottonseed meal to feed blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons and boxwoods. All of these shallow rooted shrubs benefit from slowly released nutrients like those from cottonseed meal.