Blood meal is a slaughterhouse product and is often used as a fertilizer due to its fast action and high nitrogen content. This substance can be purchased at most garden centers and nurseries and is often used in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. Blood and bone meal are easily confused with each other by amateur gardeners, but the 2 fertilizers are actually very different, as blood meal is rich in nitrogen, while bone meal is high in phosphorus. Gardeners interested in using this fertilizer on their crops must learn how to administer it correctly if they are to reap the full benefits of this organic nutrient for plants.
Steps
Step 1. Add the blood meal to the garden soil to increase the nitrogen content and obtain healthy crops
Since it is a soluble substance, it can be dissolved in water to create a liquid fertilizer. Blood meal is particularly useful in vegetable gardens that are grown from year to year, because nitrogen can become depleted from the soil after repeated growth cycles.
Step 2. Use this fertilizer on the soil you want to make more acidic, as this substance effectively reduces the pH
If you want to know the acidity of the soil before applying blood meal, take a sample to your local nursery for analysis. If you find that the pH is too high to efficiently grow the crops you want, blood meal may be the best way to prepare the soil for planting.
Step 3. Watch your plants for signs of nitrogen deficiency throughout the growing season
A telltale sign that crops are not getting enough of this important nutrient are yellowing leaves. If you think your plants are starting to not get enough nitrogen from the soil, an application of blood meal during the growing season can return the leaves to their green hue once again.
Step 4. Learn to use this fertilizer as a deterrent for certain types of pests in your garden
This substance has been shown to be effective in keeping deer, rabbits and other pests away from gardens during the growing season. However, this manure also attracts other types of creatures, including dogs and raccoons. If you want to use blood meal as a deterrent, make sure the substance really keeps away the specific animals you want to avoid.
Step 5. Use blood meal when crops need immediate action
This fertilizer is often used because it is one of the fastest on the market today. A single application of blood meal is usually effective for 6-8 weeks before further applications are needed.
