In times past, the bakery horse delivered adequate manure for suburban vegie patches and there were no questions asked which manure to use - horse was it.

When I am asked about its nutritional value, I have to be honest and say it's now bottom of the pile.

Simply to build up gardens, particularly in preparation for flowers or vegetables, dig cow manure in for summer and spring and poultry manure for autumn and winter.

Contemporary fertilisers have been developed to comply with organic standards, using pellets for easy application.

Neutrog Fertilisers from South Australia are leaders in their field. Beginning with Sudden Impact for roses, their range has been developed to include all purpose products.

Bounceback is an ideal general purpose product which is ideal to use at planting stage to promote early root growth - its nitrogen content is lower than that of Neutrog's next edition, Rapid Raiser, which also contains blood and bone.

Rapid Raiser can be used also on all plants, but primarily it is concentrated to achieve faster results.

Organic gardeners will benefit from using Rapid Raiser.

Liquid and foliant fertilisers are used for quick absorption to encourage growth, fruiting and flowering whilst the slow-release products feed the soil gradually.

Although Seasol is popular, I find it great to stimulate root growth, but I rely on other fertilisers to actually feed plants.

I love potash to improve rose blooms, but it is also great as a fruit and bloom booster, making it ideal for vegetables, flowers, fruit and also lawns - it is excellent for potted colour to keep annuals flowering for longer.

Each Monday I water Searles Flourish over the seedling punnets of vegetables, flowers and herbs.

This soluble plant food boosts blooms, feeds the foliage and develops fruit.

Searles have extended their soluble fertiliser range to include Orchid Booster, Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia, Fruit Booster, and Green & Growth which I find is an ideal treatment for indoor plants.