fertilizer shelf life

[mvona]

Question: Do fertilizers have a shelf life or expiration date?

My wife just purchased a package of Miracle-Gro, opened it and used some only to find that we already had a package of it from last year (or maybe even 2 years ago). Does it matter which we use? Should I be tossing the unused? Are there differences in this depending on the type of fertilizer? thanks for any help. Mark

 

[DirtMechanic]

The water mix mg can separate into a blue liquid that seeeps to the bottome of the package at which point I would wash the whole thing over my compost pile.

 

[headfullofbees]

Throw the lot away; this year's, last year's any other year's.
It's a pollutant.

 

[johnny canoe]

Your old fertilizer is as good as the new.

 

[TomatoTango]

It’s fine. Some of them in dry form can keep for decades with little potency loss.

 

[mvona]

Thanks for the replies. If it makes headfullofbees feel any better, you can rest assured that I try not to use much of the stuff (which is why we end up year to year with extra) AND just today my wife wants to put turf builder on our lawn. I have never used anything on the lawns and would rather not. We are 'arguing ' the point right now. What is in turf builder?? Is it only a fertilizer or is it also a weed killer? I'm going to have to look into this.

Thanks again.

 

[headfullofbees]

As you're in NY, it makes little difference to me personally what chemicals you use to "fertilise" your plants.
My post was advice.
You'll be happier if you try your best to use organic, or near organic, means, as everyone I know who has made the change, feels much better with what they grow, happier in their hobby, and a oneness with the earth which sounds like melodramatic claptrap, but which I promise is true.
Growing your own fertiliser is even better.