Well, first off, bone meal can run from 0-10-0, to maybe 6-12-0, depending on the "brand " used. Then, in my opinion, the most important thing you can do, if you plan on fertilizing, is do a soil test, so you know what, if anything, you need. Then, assuming you are lacking one ,or more nutrients, is decide whether you want to go "chemical", or "organic"( bone meal would be classed as an organic, I'm sure), and what the plants you are growing actually need (sweet corn in a garden would have much different needs than iris). I personally use bone meal on all my flowers and bulbs, and think it helps, but, that's just MY opinion. Another thing to watch is the TOTAL amount of nutrients that you apply. example..if you used bone meal (6-12-0), some alfalfa pellets (3-0-0), a small handful of 10-10-10 fertilizer, and then put some corn gluten meal (9-0-0)on as a weed preventer, your total nitrogen would be pretty high for iris! You have to be aware of what you add, and what you need....Arlyn
