Grass clippings at NPK 4-1-2 is cheaper and higher in nitrogen than alfalfa meal NPK 2-1-2. I planted 20 tomato plants this year, first year ever with grass clippings mixed in with soil. I'm very impressed: thicker stems, no wilting in hot sun (best ever in 2 decades of tomato crop).

But there's one plant that got pine-bark & sand in the planting hole, and it's wilting with tiny leaves .... too dry & low-nitrogen. University of CT documented the release of nitrogen of grass clipping is WITHIN A MONTH, so alfalfa is best as FRESH on top, rather that composted (nitrogen leaches out completely after 1 month).

The tomatoes with 1/2 fresh grass clippings mixed with 1/2 clay have the thickest stem & most fruits. That far surpass the year which I used 40 lbs. bag of alfalfa meal for my tomato (too many leaves & weak stems). However, I tested mixing fresh grass-clippings with bagged sand .. that didn't work for roses, thanks to the quick lime (pH 9) in the bagged sand, and perhaps roses can't handle the acidity of fresh grass-clippings like tomatoes. So I'll wait until 1 month for the grass-clippings to decompose, before planting my roses. Will let you know later.

Last year I TOPPED my 16 own-root roses (in pots) with alfalfa pellets .. that worked well. But this year I MIXED alfalfa pellets INTO potting soil for my 7 own-root roses received mid-May .. I did that 2 weeks before planting rose into the pots. THAT DIDN'T WORK WHATSOVER, The acidity of decayed organics stunt roots and leaves turned pale due to lack of oxygen. Alfalfa meal is quite dense & wet & sticky, so roots can't breathe. Organics is best on top, except for dry grass-clippings which worked great mix-into clay for tomatoes, but I'll wait 1 more month before planting roses into the ground with clay mixed with grass-clippings.