Question
  Hello Mack Jean, I have been using 100% corn gluten as a pre emergent for
1 year in my flower beds.  Prices on 5 lb bags are double the cost per pound
as the 25 lb bags.  Now the company is telling me that they only have the 25
lb size in the "lawn formula" containing 80% corn gluten and added potaash,
sulfate, and phosphorus.  They say the lawn formulation is unsuitable in
flower beds, will inhibit blooms.  8-2-4 is the ratio.  Other organic garden
suppliers have toild me this is bunk, that the 8-2-4 will work fine on flower
beds. What is your take on this?  Do you recommend corn gluten as pre
emergent?  Thanks, Bruce Illig

Answer
Dear Bruce:

I recommend corn gluten as a preemergent for lawns as well as flower beds.  The corn gluten meal that I am most familiar with is the 10% nitrogen and 60% corn protein ratio.  In my opinion, the use of the 8-2-4 ratio in flower beds would not inhibit flower blooms.  In researching your question, I could not find a single source of information that contradicts my opinion about negative impact effect of corn gluten meal on flower beds.

Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee