Blood/bone meal attracting animals?

Q

qpone

Member
I plan on growing outdoors organically but I'm worried that the blood/bone meal I'm amending my soil with will attract unwanted animals. I've heard that "cooking" the soil will eliminate the chance of predators smelling it.

If so, how long should I "cook" the soil prior to planting? Are there any other precautionary measures I can take against unwanted animals? And are there any other organic amendments that can replace blood meal and bone meal altogether?

Any advice is appreciated, thanks
 
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Edgar9

Well-Known Member
use worm castings instead. I dumped a bunch of blood meal outside my house once and it attracted biting flies. The flies invaded the property for the entire summer. It was unbelievable. They were everywhere. Biting me, my dog, they didn't leave until it was cold out. They never came back though after they were gone.
 
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TheHaze

Well-Known Member
ya if there are pests that live around like racoons and opossums your gonna get attacked if you use blood meal. Gotta cook a min of 4 weeks I would say. best thing I ever seen used to help fight diggers is burring diamond pattern metal screen over the hole. Just cut a hole in the middle of the screen for the plant to grow up through. It will not stop them digging completely but it might save it long enough for you to find it and repair the damage.
 
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Lookwhatimblazn

Active Member
TheHaze said:
ya if there are pests that live around like racoons and opossums your gonna get attacked if you use blood meal. Gotta cook a min of 4 weeks I would say. best thing I ever seen used to help fight diggers is burring diamond pattern metal screen over the hole. Just cut a hole in the middle of the screen for the plant to grow up through. It will not stop them digging completely but it might save it long enough for you to find it and repair the damage.
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I didn't use blood meal least year but I did have a ground hog fuck everything up for me (I did get my revenge hehehehe) but got to bury the chicken wire like 4 to 6 inches deep around the plant or itll push it's way threw trust me I watched it do it so I knew right before I shot it in the was with my 12g
 
Q

qpone

Member
im liking the idea of using metal mesh to prevent animals from digging them up. ive also heard alfalfa/kelp meal can replace blood/bone meal so ill look into that
 
HTP

HTP

Active Member
I myself never had an issue with bone meal.
Until a family of rats ran out of the box. Lets just say bone mean is no more.
 
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markexpress

Active Member
Indeed. Had some bad experience with these things. Using blood/bone meal is just as bad as using egg shells. I don't use any food items for my garden anymore. Animals sometimes dug holes, trampled soil, and sometimes caused serious damage to the plants after I used post-consumption human food for my garden. From my experience, its better not to use these things. Stick to non-food sprays, worm castings and nutrient mixes.
 
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