Unidentified issue at hand; apples remain plentiful and sweet. Continue reaping bountiful apple crop.
Digging Up a Garden Secret: Using Dog Bones to Fuel Your Apple Trees
Imagine transforming your leftover dog treats into something beneficial—a secret weapon for your apple trees! That's exactly what agronomist Elvira Abdullina discovered.
Now, you might not know this, but plants can be as food-loving as us humans. Grace Loudon, a horticulturist, explains how our meat waste can enrich their lives.
Why Are Bones a Gardening Game- Changer?
Bone remnants are a treasure trove of essential micronutrients. They provide calcium to harden the tree's bark, nitrogen for vigorous leaf growth, and iron, magnesium, and other nutrients that bolster the overall health of your apple tree. As they decompose, they act as a long-lasting fertilizer, nourishing the soil for months.
Unleashing the Power of Bones
- Choosing the Right MaterialRemnants from boiling or slow cooking are perfect candidates—just ensure there's no lingering meat to avoid smelly surprises.
- The Magic Bone BurialPlace the bones 15-20 cm deep beneath your apple tree's drip line, around 30-50 cm from the trunk, to avoid root damage.
- Feeding FrequencyFollow this method once a season, using 3-5 bones per tree for optimal results.
Bone Benefits
Trees fed this way produce larger, juicier fruits. They also become tougher against diseases, making them a frugal, eco-friendly alternative to pricier store-bought fertilizers, as Abdullina points out.
Pro Tips
Cook the bones in the oven and grind them for swifter nutrient release, if you fancy. But even without prior treatment, the process works naturally—don't worry about that. Just avoid using hollow bird bones, as they can harm roots during decomposition. Opt for beef or pork bones, she suggests.
An InsightBone meal fertilizer, similar to what you'd find in your dog treats, offers an abundance of phosphorus and calcium, vital for root growth, flowering, and fruit production[1][5]. It also contains micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and zinc, which prevent soil deficiencies[1]. Apple trees experiencing phosphorus deficiency often show stunted growth, dark green or purple leaves, and loss of fruit quality[2][5].
When using bone meal, it's essential to first test the soil for phosphorus deficiency and check the pH levels. Bone meal works best in acidic to neutral soils (pH < 7.5)[5]. Apply bone meal at the start of the growing season (early spring) or during planting[1]. The recommended dosage is 5–10 lbs per 100 sq ft, mixed into the top 6 inches of soil, avoiding root disturbance[1]. Reapply every 4 months if deficiencies persist[1]. For established trees, balance nutrients by combining bone meal with potassium-rich amendments like wood ash or banana peel fertilizer[2][5]. Avoid overapplication, as excessive phosphorus may deplete micronutrients[1][5].
- Bone remnants, rich in essential micronutrients, can harden a tree's bark, promote vigorous leaf growth, and provide nutrients like iron, magnesium, and others that boost the overall health of apple trees.
- Remnants from boiled or slow-cooked bones, free of lingering meat, are ideal for this gardening technique, helping avoid smelly surprises.
- To utilize the bones effectively, bury them 15-20 cm deep beneath an apple tree's drip line, around 30-50 cm from the trunk, to prevent root damage.
- Apply this method once a season, using 3-5 bones per tree for optimal results.
- Bone-fed apple trees are known to produce larger, juicier fruits and are tougher against diseases, offering a frugal, eco-friendly alternative to pricier store-bought fertilizers.
- In addition to using bones for gardening, bone meal fertilizer, similar to what can be found in dog treats, provides phosphorus and calcium vital for root growth, flowering, and fruit production, while also offering micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and zinc that can prevent soil deficiencies.
