Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration
  3. Evergreens

Gardening 101: The difference between blood meal vs. bonemeal

When to use and how to apply blood meal and bonemeal

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

It might sound like blood meal and bonemeal are ingredients a witch would use to make a potion for someone they don’t like, but they’re actually fantastic tools for gardeners. If you’re looking for more assets you can use in the garden, read on to find out how the use of both blood meal and bonemeal might help you grow bigger, healthier, and more productive plants in an all-natural and organic way.

Gardener tending to the garden
Image used with permission by copyright holder

blood meal vs. bonemeal – the difference

Blood meal is dried and powdered animal blood and bonemeal is ground animal bones. Both are great options for adding nutrients back into the soil, and they’re both considered all-natural and organic. However, they obviously contain animal products, so if you’re not okay with that, these are options you’ll want to pass on. If you are okay with that, the good news is these are recycled products used from slaughterhouses. Not only are you introducing organic materials into your garden and avoiding potentially harmful chemicals, but you’re also helping reduce the amount of waste slaughterhouses create.

Recommended Videos

Besides what parts of the animal they’re made of, the most significant difference between blood meal and bonemeal are what nutrients they add back into the soil. As we gardeners know, the soil is the most crucial aspect of growing healthy and productive plants. So before you go adding bonemeal or blood meal to your soil, be sure to perform a soil test to see what it may or may not be missing.

Blood meal fertilizer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When to use blood meal

Blood meal increases the soil’s nitrogen level. Nitrogen is essential to plant growth and is a vital aspect of the photosynthesis process that plants go through. Without enough nitrogen, your plants are likely to wither and die. However, too much nitrogen can be toxic to plants, which is why it’s important to always test your soil before adding any amendments.

If you’ve had your soil tested and it shows low amounts of nitrogen, you can use blood meal to help fix that. However, blood meal is a slow-releasing fertilizer and doesn’t help out a plant in dire need of nitrogen. It’s best to add this to a garden bed before winter to allow the nutrients to release slowly into the soil and be better prepared for the next season. If you add it to the top of your soil, it’s safer than other fertilizers since it won’t burn your plants.

Healthy soil
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When to use bonemeal

Bonemeal adds calcium and phosphorus back into the soil along with small amounts of magnesium, iron, and zinc, all of which are vital to a plant’s health. Calcium helps plants grow stronger. It provides structural support to the cell walls and will allow the plant to grow taller and resist winds. Phosphorus might be the most essential element in plant growth and is found in every living plant cell. It’s involved with energy transfer, photosynthesis, nutrition movement, the genetic characteristics from one generation to the next, and the transformation of sugars and starches. So if your soil test has come back showing low amounts of phosphorus, you’ll want to get your hands on a bag of bonemeal.

While blood meal is a slow-releasing fertilizer, bonemeal comes in two forms. First, there’s a granular bonemeal option that acts similar to blood meal in that it’s slow releasing and a great option if you’re adding it to the top of the soil and allowing it to slowly supply the plants with a steady amount of nutrients. However, if your plants are in desperate need of phosphorus or calcium, you can use the powdered form of bonemeal that can be dissolved in water and will quickly supply your plants with what they need.

While these organic fertilizers have somewhat scary names, they’re great ways to recycle material that would otherwise go to waste and all-natural solutions to nutrient deficiencies in your garden soil. Just be sure to use a soil test before adding anything to your soil to avoid adding too much of something. Next time your plants need a bit of a boost, think about trying out blood meal or bonemeal.

Topics
13 shrubs perfect for wet soil conditions
These shrubs are perfect for wet soil
A winterberry holly shrub in autumn

Have you ever heard of a plant not liking wet feet? It's true; some plants don't like their roots to be soaked for too long. Many plants won't thrive or will even die in overly wet conditions. This can make gardening difficult if your yard is naturally wet. Luckily, there are plants suited for every condition, even wet soil! In this guide we'll explain how wet soil is defined and recommend some plants that like wet soil for you to try growing.

What shrubs do well in wet soil?

Read more
How to store fertilizer safely and effectively
Why fertilizer storage is important
Seedling surrounded by fertilizer

Gardening can be a fun way to unwind and enjoy delicious homegrown fruits and veggies. Some plants are more stubborn than others, but luckily, there are plenty of tools and products available to help with everything from getting rid of a plant to making it grow larger. Fertilizer is one such tool, perfect for houseplants, gardens with poor soil, and encouraging the biggest and best fruits and flowers. If you’ve found yourself with more fertilizer than you can use right away, you may wonder how to store fertilizer. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to store it safely and effectively.
How to store fertilizer

If the fertilizer is unopened or came in a resealable container, such as a bottle with a lid, then you should store it in the original container. The storage place should be somewhere with ventilation, as well as a mild or cool, dry, clean, and shady environment. A garage or basement is usually the best place for this, but inspect the area to make sure it is safe. Avoid storing your fertilizer in places that are stuffy or quickly become hot, such as a shed, closet, or attic.

Read more
How to use coconut coir in your garden for better plant growth
Different ways coconut coir can upgrade your gardening routine
Coconut at the beach

Coconut coir has been used in gardens for a long time, but what is it, and what is it used for? Also known as coco coir or coconut fiber, it comes from the husk of the coconut fruit. It's used in everything from home decor to construction, and can provide several benefits to your plants. Coconut coir can provide soil structure, drainage, and aeration to keep plants healthy in container gardens and traditional gardens. As it is a more environmentally friendly material than peat moss, many consider it a green add-in to soil. Want to try using it in your garden? Here's what to know about how to use coconut coir in gardening.

Read more