Using horn shavings as fertilizer: How to strengthen garden plants

Long-term effects
Using horn shavings as natural fertilizer: How to strengthen balcony and garden plants

Organic fertilizers such as horn shavings have two advantages: Firstly, they contain a lot of nitrogen, which plants need to survive. Secondly, they are a recycled product that is already integrated into the global cycle. But what exactly does the natural fertilizer consist of?

Horn shavings are made from ground horn and ground hooves from cattle, mostly from overseas. The natural fertilizer is actually a waste product from the slaughterhouse industry, but it contains a lot of nitrogen. That is why, like fresh horse manure, it is particularly suitable for strengthening balcony and garden plants. And not just in the short term, but over a long period of time. This article explains why this is the case, how horn shavings, horn meal or horn grit differ from one another, and how you can use the natural fertilizer correctly.

That is why horn shavings are a good natural fertilizer

Unlike other fertilizers, Horn shavings some lead time before the nitrogen contained in it can be absorbed by the plant roots. In fact, it can take up to three months for the nutrients to be completely released into the soil – so horn shavings are a fertilizer with a long-term effect. Another advantage is the neutral pH value: thanks to this (and the slow decomposition) you can practically never over-fertilize your plants. This is partly due to the size of the horn shavings. The question arises as to what happens with horn meal and horn grit, since both fertilizers are also made from crushed horn.

Horn shavings, horn meal, horn semolina: The difference

In addition to nitrogen, which makes up the lion’s share of horn shavings fertilizer, horn meal and horn grit, the three different fertilizers also contain potassium and phosphorus – but only very little (less than one percent). Therefore, additional substances are usually added to them to increase the phosphorus and calcium content. Accordingly, the individual composition of horn shavings, horn meal and horn grit varies slightly. Visually, however, the biggest difference is in the grain size:

The rule of thumb is: the larger the grind, the slower the effect. Horn meal While it takes a few weeks for horn shavings to decompose, it takes several months for all of the nutrients in the horn shavings to be absorbed by the plants.

When and how: How to use horn shavings correctly

The ideal time for fertilizing with Horn shavings is between March and October. You can either enrich the soil with the natural product in the autumn so that the plants can feed on it until the following spring, or vice versa. If you are looking for a faster effect, horn meal or horn grit are sensible alternatives to fertilizing. But regardless of which option you choose – the application is always the same: distribute the nitrogen fertilizer evenly over the desired area and then work it into the soil. For example, with a garden claw or a rake. Otherwise, the decomposition process on the surface will take even longer. Then water the soil well and evenly so that the nutrients reach the soil more quickly.

And one more tip at the end: If you mix the horn shavings fertilizer with mature compost before spreading it on the plants, the nitrogen fertilizer will decompose even faster.

Source: My beautiful garden

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