Gardeners have been urged to start preparing their gardens for winter, and one important task is to use bone meal
Gardeners told to place chicken bones on their plants(Image: Getty)
As temperatures begin to fall, gardeners are being advised they face crucial tasks this autumn to ‘get through the winter.’ One peculiar job has been highlighted by popular content creator @creative_explained, who has encouraged gardeners to place chicken bones in their outdoor spaces.
He explained, “Think about how many chicken bones are being wasted every day. You can turn the bones into something useful like this. Next time you eat chicken, make some bone meal afterwards.” Bone meal serves as an unexpected fertiliser that can enhance your plants’ resilience, reports the Express.
Why is fertiliser essential in autumn?
Using fertiliser during autumn proves vital as plants concentrate on developing their root systems.
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Robust roots enhance winter endurance and result in more spectacular displays come the following season.
Landscaping specialists at Lancasters explain: “During this time, your plants won’t require high-nitrogen fertilisers, as nitrogen primarily helps with leafy green growth. Instead, you’ll want to focus on nutrients that strengthen roots and improve plant health while they become dormant.”
These essential nutrients encompass phosphorus, which encourages root development and energy reserves for the colder months.
Potassium proves necessary as it enhances resistance to illness, frost, and environmental pressures, whilst calcium and magnesium support nutrient uptake and boost soil condition during the dormant period.
Bone meal, rich in phosphorus and calcium, is known to promote robust root development, making it ideal for “planting autumn bulbs like daffodils and tulips or when planting/dividing perennials.”
Fertiliser is crucial this Autumn (Image: Getty)How to make bone meal
Start by boiling the bones to get rid of meat and fat. Once clean, bake until they are dry and brittle, then crush into small fragments.
The experts at Meat Eater suggest that smaller bones can be broken with a rolling pin or mallet, while larger, denser bones may require heavier tools or pressure cooking first.
They added: “When the pieces are less than an inch in diameter, you can transfer them to a high-power blender or mortar and pestle to break them down even further into a fine powder, which will help it break down faster in the soil, but it isn’t completely necessary. Simply scatter it over your garden soil and lightly work it in. As a “slow-release fertiliser”, it shouldn’t harm your plants, but it’s still best to apply the right amount for your space, as too much phosphorus will “run off into waterways, creating pollution. “.
It’s also worth noting that gardeners with dogs might want to steer clear of using bone meal. The fertiliser can smell like a tempting treat and could lead your dog to dig up your flowerbeds and damage your plants.
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