Fertilizer
+6
Is this the right time to apply bone meal to my perennials ? Also another question, is bone meal good for all perennials and shrubs? doe it change the Ph?
8 answers
-
Hi Bonnie, I am in Texas next to the coastal, I use bone meal When I have high organic soil because it is a natural source of phosphorus. I would use a liquid on existing plants and mix granular into soil for new plants but remember going into winter plant go dormant ( roots will start to grow) even for pansy, cyclamens and alyssums .....
Corvera Outdoor Living By Design
on Oct 11, 2013
-
See this link for an interesting discussion on the use of bone meal. As Corvera says, it is essentially supplying phosphorous to the soil, so you should do a soil test to see if your soil actually needs it. (In Florida it almost never does.) I would reccomend you apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in the spring. http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/qa/pros-cons-bonemeal.aspx
Douglas Hunt
on Oct 11, 2013
-
Boy, live and learn I thought bone meal was one of the best things for perennials! I have a brand new bag of it that ( maybe ) I will return .Doug,I should probably have my soil tested but more than likely I won't...:) I did give all my perennials bone meal in the spring and everything did really well but maybe just a coincidence. I read the article you suggested and apparently bone meal isn't that great anymore .Maybe it was my compost that made my plants do well 'cause I added that too. thank you Doug and Corvera for your comments.
Bonnie Bassett
on Oct 11, 2013
-
i would use a small amount of fert, and Iin another month do again.10-10-10
Lawn Pro
on Oct 12, 2013
-
Your perennial garden is about to go to sleep for the winter in NH. I wouldn't try to push any new growth right now as the tender growth will just freeze. If you cut back your perennials for the winter, do that (or not) and put some organic compost over the bed. Then in the spring, have the soil tested (so easy to do and possibly free or very cheap via your local Cooperative Extension), then add what the findings suggest. More compost will always help then too..
Gretchen
on Oct 12, 2013
-
I've only used bone meal when planting flower bulbs in the fall. I put some in the hole with the bulb.
Linda
on Oct 12, 2013
-
I'm new to Middle Tennessee and our builder put in knock-out roses at back of house. They've thrived this summer and as cold weather approaches, I don't know how to prepare them for the "dead" season. I used to cut regular roses back to a foot or so and heavily mulched and covered them with burlap or something (I was in NJ). I've never had knock-out roses. I didn't even really prune them much during the summer months. Gardening books haven't been helpful.
Sandra Grant
on Oct 12, 2013
-
The only fertilizer to use in the fall is a winterizer for the lawn. It helps wake it up in the spring. Dont feed in the fall.
Patricia W
on Oct 12, 2013
Sign Up to Answer
