A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Bone Meal

What is it good for and how is it used?

Hi 420benz

Bone meal is an organic fertilizer that is derived from the meat processing industry. Animal bones are cooked and then ground and packaged, then sold as a slow-release fertilizer that offers a good amount of phosphorous.

The N-P-K ratio of bone meal is generally 4-12-0, though some steamed bone meals have N-P-Ks of 1-13-0.

Bone meal is frequently used to fertilize spring-blooming bulbs, but it also works well in vegetable gardens, on lawns, and in containers to provide phosphorus.

I add to my compost when I turn it in to the soil used for planting just about anything outside!,,
Root crops benefit from phophorus which is supplied in abundance by this fertilizer - Apply before growing carrot, scorzonora, and onions etc... and to corms and tubers like dahlia, peony, gladiola.
Apply to soil before peas, beans, sweet peas and other legumes - phosporus is probably beneficial to the nitrogen fixing Rhizobium bacteria found in the root nodules of legumes.

Apply at 1 oz per square yard to new soil before transplanting spring sown cabbage to new sites following beans.
As a shrub fertilizer sprinkle into planting pockets and over the back fill - Apply 2-3 oz per shrub.
The calcium content is especially beneficial for perennials and as a deciduous shrub fertilizer - Continue to fork in every 2 years.
Note: bone meal is basic, with an alkaline reaction in the soil - Avoid applying around acid loving plants like ericas, rhodendrons, and azaleas.
Use on lime loving (calcicoles) clematis, lilac, and hydrangea ...
Apply to fruit bushes; especially if soils conditions are too acidic.
Sprinkle fine grade bone meal sparingly on the soil surface of containers and indoor pot plants and water in; or mix in a small amount when making your own compost for indoor plants.

I hope this helped,

Thanks For Your Help.