do roses like bone meal

Do Roses Like Bone Meal? A Detailed Look at This Popular Fertilizer

Bone meal has long been touted as an essential fertilizer for growing beautiful roses. The advice to sprinkle bone meal into the planting hole is commonly given to novice rose gardeners. But what exactly is bone meal, and is it truly beneficial for roses? Let’s analyze the science behind using bone meal for roses.

What is Bone Meal?

Bone meal is a granular, powdery organic fertilizer made from ground animal bones, usually cattle, pigs, chickens or other livestock. The bones are crushed into a meal and thermally processed to sanitize them before being pulverized into a fine powder.

The resulting material is rich in phosphorus and calcium, Bone meal typically contains around 12-16% phosphorus and 20-24% calcium, It also provides smaller amounts of nitrogen and potassium

Why Bone Meal is Often Recommended for Roses

There are a couple key reasons bone meal has traditionally been promoted as an ideal fertilizer for roses:

• Roses need phosphorus for proper root, stem, and flower development. Bone meal is a very good source of this important nutrient.

• Phosphorus is not very mobile in soil. Putting bone meal right in the planting hole puts phosphorus where rose roots can reach it.

• The calcium in bone meal helps roses properly utilize nutrients and prevents issues like blossom end rot.

• As an organic fertilizer, bone meal improves soil structure and nourishes helpful soil microbes.

When and How to Apply Bone Meal for Roses

Here are some tips on using bone meal for roses:

• Before moving new roses, add 1-2 cups for every large rose bush to the bottom of the planting holes.

• Side dress established roses in early spring by raking back soil and sprinkling 1/4 cup per plant around drip lines, then watering in.

• Mix bone meal into potting soil blends at a rate of 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of soil.

• Don’t spread more than 1 lb of bone meal over 100 square feet of garden space.

• Lightly work bone meal into the top few inches of soil, taking care not to damage rose roots.

• Reapply bone meal every 2-3 months during the growing season to provide a steady phosphorus supply.

Potential Drawbacks of Using Bone Meal

While bone meal can be helpful, there are some potential disadvantages:

• It only provides phosphorus and calcium, lacking the complete nutrition roses require.

• Overapplying can cause excessive soil phosphorus levels.

• Its alkaline pH can gradually raise soil pH, potentially inhibiting nutrient absorption.

• It releases phosphorus slowly, requiring reapplication to sustain effects.

• Bone meal dust can irritate lungs, so wearing a mask during application is recommended.

The Bottom Line: Do Roses Like Bone Meal?

Bone meal is best applied lightly at planting time and in early spring each year. Regularly testing soil can ensure phosphorus levels don’t become excessive. When used thoughtfully alongside other organic amendments, bone meal can be a helpful asset for nourishing roses.