Bone Meal: Should You Use It?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 10:08 am

Bone meal is a natural fertilizer made from crushed or ground animal bones, usually from cattle. It’s a good source of essential nutrients for plants, particularly phosphorus and calcium. Whether you should use bone meal in your garden depends on various factors, including your specific gardening needs and preferences. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

Pros of Using Bone Meal:

1. Phosphorus Source: Bone meal is rich in phosphorus, which is essential for root development, flowering, and fruiting in plants. It can be particularly beneficial for flowering and fruiting plants.
2. Calcium Content: It also provides calcium, which is important for overall plant health. Calcium plays a role in cell structure and helps prevent disorders like blossom end rot in tomatoes.
3. Slow Release: Bone meal is a slow-release fertilizer, which means it provides nutrients to plants gradually over time. This can be advantageous for steady plant growth.
4. Organic and Natural: Bone meal is an organic and natural fertilizer, making it a popular choice for gardeners who prefer to avoid synthetic chemicals.

Cons of Using Bone Meal:

1. Potential Odor: Bone meal can have a strong, unpleasant odor, especially when wet. Some gardeners may find this off-putting.
2. Slow Release: While the slow-release nature of bone meal can be an advantage, it can also be a drawback if you need an immediate nutrient boost for your plants.
3. Limited Nitrogen and Potassium: Bone meal is relatively low in nitrogen and potassium, which are also important nutrients for plant growth. You may need to supplement with other fertilizers to ensure a balanced nutrient intake.
4. Availability for Plants: The nutrients in bone meal may not be readily available to plants in highly alkaline or acidic soils. Soil conditions can affect nutrient uptake.

Considerations for Use:

• Plant Type: Bone meal is well-suited for flowering and fruiting plants, but less so for plants that primarily require nitrogen for leafy growth.
• Soil Testing: Conduct a soil test to determine if your garden lacks phosphorus or calcium. If your soil is already rich in these nutrients, additional bone meal may not be necessary.
• Application: Follow the recommended application rates on the product label. Overuse of bone meal can lead to nutrient imbalances and potential harm to plants.
• Alternatives: If you prefer to avoid the odor or slow release of bone meal, there are other organic and synthetic fertilizers available to meet specific plant nutrient needs.

In conclusion, whether you should use bone meal in your garden depends on your specific gardening goals and the nutritional needs of your plants. It can be a valuable addition for certain situations, but it’s essential to consider the pros and cons and use it judiciously to maximize its benefits without causing nutrient imbalances.

Bone meal is coarsely ground bone. Gardeners have used ground bone as a nutritional supplement for plants for centuries, and it continues to be widely used for this purpose. Many garden supply stores stock the meal for gardeners. Historically, it has also been used as an animal feed supplement, although this practice has been questioned by those concerned about food safety. Meal is a potential vector for bovine spongiform encephalitis and other spongiform diseases, and its use in animal feed has been banned in some regions for this reason.

Bones used in bone meal are generally obtained from slaughterhouses and rendering plants. Both conventional and organic bone meal are available, with organic products coming from slaughterhouses that handle organic meat. In addition to the basic meal, it is also possible to find bone meals that have been fortified with additional vitamins and minerals. The packaging usually indicates the balance of nutrients in the meal so gardeners know which product to choose for their needs.

This fertilizer product is rich in phosphorus and calcium, among others. It releases its nutrients slowly as it breaks down in the soil, making it a natural time-release fertilizer. It is classically used to prepare the soil for planting, usually by being raked into the ground or layered into a hole prepared for transplanting. Flour can also be used during bulb establishment, to provide nutrients to the developing bulb so that it becomes strong and healthy.

Companies produce bone meal in coarse and fine variations. The finer the grind, the faster the meal will break down and release its nutrients. Gardeners can also make their own by crushing and breaking bones and spreading or burying them in the garden. The advantage of completing is that it is uniformly ground and sterilized to eliminate potential pathogens, and the small grind makes it less attractive to animals.

Bone meal should not be applied to acid-loving plants, as it tends to make the soil more alkaline and can make these plants unhappy. It should also ideally be mixed with the soil, rather than piled on top of it, to promote nutrient dispersal in the soil. This product should be used with other soil amendments such as compost, mulch, peat moss, etc. to get the right balance of nutrients and texture in the soil.