Blood Meal vs. Bone Meal: What's Best for my Garden

Healthy soil creates thriving gardens "Feed your soil, not just your plants.”

When it comes to fertilizing your garden, remember this simple truth: you’re not just feeding your plants, you’re nourishing your soil. Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. While plants take in nutrients from the soil, it’s the living microorganisms within that soil that make those nutrients available. Supporting that natural cycle is the key to long-term garden success.

At The Home & Garden Store, we encourage gardeners to think of soil health first. Using organic fertilizers like Ferti-lome blood & bone meal helps maintain a natural balance, replenishing essential nutrients and promoting strong, resilient plant growth. These slow-release fertilizers are rich in vital proteins and minerals that support both your plants and the living ecosystem beneath them.

Both blood meal and bone meal are excellent soil amendments, but they provide different benefits depending on your garden’s needs. Here’s what you should know about each one and how to use them effectively.

Blood Meal: A Natural Boost of Nitrogen

“Blood meal adds nitrogen to boost lush, leafy growth.”

What It Is: Blood meal is a dry, powdered form of animal blood, typically from cattle and is one of the richest natural sources of nitrogen (N). Nitrogen is the nutrient responsible for lush, leafy growth and deep green foliage.

Best For:

• Leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale, and broccoli

• Ornamental plants with rich, green foliage

• Lawns that need a quick green-up

Benefits:

• Promotes vigorous vegetative growth

• Helps correct nitrogen deficiencies

• Encourages healthy microbial activity in the soil

How to Use: Apply blood meal sparingly, as too much nitrogen can burn plants. Mix it lightly into the top few inches of soil or add it to compost before planting. Always water thoroughly after application.

Where to Find It: High-quality, organic blood meal is available at The Home & Garden Store, where our team can help you determine the right amount for your specific garden and soil conditions.

Bone Meal: Building Strong Roots and Beautiful Blooms

"Bone meal provides phosphorus and calcium for strong roots and abundant blooms.”

What It Is: Bone meal is a fine powder made from ground animal bones and is an excellent source of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). These nutrients are essential for developing strong roots, improving flowering, and encouraging healthy fruiting.

Best For:

• Flowering plants, bulbs, and perennials

• Root crops like carrots, beets, and potatoes

• Newly planted trees and shrubs

Benefits:

• Stimulates strong root development

• Encourages bigger, more abundant blooms

• Improves plant structure and resistance to stress

How to Use: Bone meal is best added at planting time. Mix it into the soil at the root zone or sprinkle around existing plants, then water well. Since it releases nutrients slowly, it provides long-lasting benefits for your garden throughout the growing season.

Where to Find It: You can pick up premium bone meal at The Home & Garden Store to give your flowering plants and perennials the nutrients they need for lasting beauty.

Using Blood Meal and Bone Meal Together

For the best results, many gardeners use blood meal and bone meal together. The nitrogen in blood meal fuels leafy growth, while the phosphorus and calcium in bone meal strengthen roots and support blooms. Together, they create a well-balanced nutrient profile that helps plants grow strong and healthy from the ground up.

Before adding any fertilizer, it’s important to perform a soil test. You can bring your results or even a soil sample to The Home & Garden Store, where our garden experts can help you interpret them and recommend the perfect product mix for your soil’s specific needs.

“The Home & Garden Store team can help you find the right organic fertilizers for your soil.”)

The Home & Garden Store Tip

When it comes to organic fertilizers, patience pays off. Blood meal and bone meal release nutrients slowly over time, feeding your soil steadily rather than delivering a short burst. The result? Healthier soil, stronger plants, and a more resilient garden ecosystem that thrives season after season.

Charlie Hartman - Idaho Certified Nurseryman

The Home & Garden Store - Boise, Idaho

Phone: 208.917.4820