I planted our front lawn area with Calimbrochoa(sp?) as a ground cover about 6 months ago. I did not fertilize it through the winter and have just fertilized once so far this Spring. Some of the plants are browning in the middles where the roots are and then dying. What is causing this and what can I do to stop it? The little card that came with the plants indicated that I should use a high nitrogen fertilzer. What can I use that will not kill birds and other wildlife as well as earthworms? Sandy Have you checked the roots to see if you might have grub worms? If you want a high nitrogen fertilizer you can try the Bat Guano or our Premium Lawn Food 7-2-2, with organics you are not typically going to find high numbers like you would find with man made synthetic fertilizers. You can mix the bat guano with water and water the plants or you can spread it out around the plants and then water it in. The 7-2-2 you can broadcast around the plants and water it in, in the meantime I would check to see if you have grubs and if you do check with your local nursery or garden center to see if they have beneficial nematodes. Then nematodes are a predator for grubs and other insects and will not harm the plants in the process. | 
