Horn shavings are popular with many hobby gardeners, but there are also some question marks regarding the application and effect. To understand how the material affects plant growth, knowledge of ingredients, usage, and dosage is important.

Horn shavings are a fertilizer of animal origin

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. buying tips
  3. For which plants?
  4. composition
  5. use
  6. Advantages, disadvantages, possibilities
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • Horn shavings (€32.93) are sold in discounters and hardware stores in 2.5 or 5 kg bags. The smaller variant is usually sufficient for one gardening season. There are rarely mixed fertilizers with castor bean meal.
    • The horn fertilizer is suitable for most ornamental and useful plants in the garden. However, they require additional nutrients. Horn shavings are not suitable for indoor plants.
    • Horn fertilizers, which are divided into horn meal, semolina and shavings, consist of around 85 percent animal proteins. The nitrogen content is between twelve and 15 percent. Other nutrients are negligible.
    • Horn shavings are applied in the growing season until autumn. A good preparation and dosage is essential for an optimal effect. This is influenced, among other things, by the weather and the condition of the soil.

    Buy horn shavings - products in comparison

    The horns for horn shavings usually come from South America

    Horn shavings are an ideal fertilizer. The raw materials are mostly imported from South America. Here the cattle graze on large pastures, so that the animals can move freely. In Germany, calves have to be dehorned early on so that they don't injure themselves later in the stables.

    Offer in Germany

    The manufacturer Oscorna operates a horn mill near Ulm and has made a name for itself as a producer of organic fertilizers. Horn shavings are available in numerous hardware and specialty stores. If you have a large need, you can buy horn shavings in 25 kg bags. Smaller quantities are sufficient for private use.

    horn shavings from contents organic price per kilogram notice
    Aldi 2.5kg no 1.52 euros not permanently on offer
    obi 2.5kg Yes 2.60 euros private label
    Hornbach 5kg no 1.99 euros unbranded

    How much horn shavings do I need?

    How much you need depends on various factors. Every plant has different nutrient requirements. Heavy-duty vegetable plants require more nitrogen than flowering ornamental shrubs. The size of the area has a decisive influence on the purchase quantity, because the fertilizer requirement is often calculated per square meter.

    Quantities for private use

    Usually 60 to 120 grams, about two hands full, are sufficient for an area of 100 x 100 centimetres. If you want to cover an area of 100 square meters, a 2.5 kg sack is enough for just over one season. You should have larger quantities on hand if you need to top up.

    You should pay attention to this when buying

    Basically, there are no major differences between the individual products from different manufacturers. Mixed products are rarely offered in which the horn shavings (€32.93) are mixed with castor meal. It is not known how common the substance, which is toxic to pets, is found in horn fertilizers. Therefore, always pay attention to the contents and do without the treacherous complete fertilizers.

    For which plants are horn shavings suitable?

    All plants can be fertilized with horn shavings

    Horn fertilizer proves to be versatile and can be used in the garden to fertilize almost all plants. The substrate has no influence on the pH value of the soil, so you can also supply lime-sensitive plants such as blueberries or rhododendrons with the nitrogen supplier. The hedge at the edge of the property also enjoys horn shavings.

    background

    Horn shavings as a universal fertilizer?

    Although the organic substrate provides mainly nitrogen, it can be used as a universal fertilizer in most gardens. According to soil analyses, more than half of all private gardens have an adequate supply of phosphate and potassium, although these main nutrients are often present in excess. Through the use of complex fertilizers, these oversupplied soils are increasingly out of balance. The result is growth disturbances in cultivated crops and ornamental plants.

    Are horn shavings suitable for the lawn?

    Horn shavings can be used as a long term lawn fertilizer if you factor in the delayed action in your fertilization. You should start well in advance of the new growing season to give the lawn a good start to the season. If the grass shows signs of deficiency and the lawn is not growing well, you can give horn meal.

    Lawn fertilization schedule:

    • regular supply of nitrogen necessary
    • first fertilization between March and April
    • then fertilize at intervals of six weeks
    • do without horn shavings from July and fertilize with a focus on potassium

    Fertilizing roses - horn shavings for ornamental plants

    Like many flowering shrubs, roses have a high phosphate requirement. The substance promotes flower development and supports energy metabolism. If you have found out with the help of a soil analysis that the phosphate and potassium content is sufficiently high, you can also supply peonies, oleander or thuja with horn fertilizer.

    • Give horn shavings directly when planting hydrangeas and co
    • then work into the soil at the beginning of each growing season
    • Top-up fertilization takes place three months later
    • Sprinkle horn meal additionally if deficiency symptoms occur

    Horn shavings for tomatoes and vegetables

    Tomatoes are heavy feeders that have a high need for nutrients throughout their growth period. In addition to phosphate, potassium and magnesium, nitrogen is essential for healthy growth and a rich harvest. In the spring, nitrogen-rich fertilization with horn shavings makes sense. If necessary, you can fertilize after three months.

    Ideally, you should enrich the soil with the organic long-term fertilizer before planting your tomato seedlings. All crops with high nutrient requirements can be supplied with nitrogen in this way, as can cucumbers.

    Nitrogen fertilizer for fruit bushes and perennials?

    Fruit trees are grateful for an organic long-term fertilizer. However, horn shavings are not sufficient as the sole fertilizer for many shrubs and perennials such as strawberries or currants. These plants have a high need for potassium. Feed these plants with a combination of horn fertilizer and compost in the spring. Horn shavings are generally well suited for the olive tree. If the plant pot is in the living room, the substrate can cause an odor nuisance.

    Unsuitable for indoor plants

    Ornamental plants in the kitchen, bathroom and living room should not be fertilized with horn shavings. The material develops an intense odor, which is further intensified by watering. It can quickly smell unpleasant in the entire apartment. Flowering plants that thrive in pots on balconies and terraces can be supplied with horn fertilizer. However, you must mix the substrate with compost. Horn shavings are decomposed by microorganisms in the soil and cannot achieve any fertilizing effect in exhausted potting soil.

    What are horn shavings made of?

    Horn shavings are literally made of horn

    Horn shavings are among the organic fertilizers that, unlike artificially produced mineral fertilizers, do not have any negative environmental impact. The material is considered a secondary raw material fertilizer because it consists of animal waste products such as horn and hooves from slaughter animals.

    digression

    Origin and problems of mineral fertilizers

    At the beginning of the 20th century, the chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch developed a process in which large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen were converted into ammonia using heat and pressure for the first time. This gaseous substance can then be easily converted into nitrogen compounds such as nitrate or urea. This so-called Haber-Bosch process is considered the birth of mineral nitrogen fertilizers.

    Haber-Bosch process as curse and blessing:

    • ensures food for the global population
    • Accumulation of nitrogen in nature
    • resulting in nitrate pollution in drinking water
    • increased algal blooms, eutrophication and decline of plant species

    ingredients

    Horn shavings are considered a source of nitrogen, as other nutrients are negligible. Animal proteins make up the bulk of the material. The content of these organic products is around 85 percent. However, horn fertilization cannot be used to build up humus in the soil. The protein compounds in which the nitrogen is bound are easily degradable. Hardly any dietary fiber remains and the amounts administered are too small to cause a significant increase in the organic content.

    Horn shavings includes:

    • nitrogen: between twelve and 15 percent, depending on the source material
    • potassium: less than one percent
    • phosphorus: below one percent
    • Others: small amounts of sulphur

    One kilogram of horn shavings contains between 100 and 150 grams of nitrogen.

    Difference between horn meal, horn shavings and horn semolina

    Horn fertilizer is available in different grain levels. Horn meal has the smallest size. The particles are less than a millimeter in diameter and are therefore the fastest to decompose, so that the plants can use the nitrogen within a short time. Horngries is somewhat coarser with a grain size of between one and five millimeters. Both products are preferred by hobby gardeners because they develop their fertilizing effect over several weeks.

    Horn shot - an intermediate form

    There is another intermediate variant between horn semolina and horn shavings. The horn meal contains grains with a size of about five millimeters. Horn chips are substrates whose particles are larger than five millimeters. Grit and shavings develop a long-term effect of up to three months, since they take the longest to decompose.

    Use horn meal or horn shavings?

    Which substrate you use for fertilizing depends on the desired speed of action. The finer horn meal is more suitable for lawns, as the particles get into the ground more quickly with the irrigation and rainwater and can be decomposed there. Horn shavings, on the other hand, remain on the lawn for a long time and disturb the overall picture. If you are laying out a fresh lawn or planting shrubs, perennials and vegetables, horn meal is an ideal long-term fertilizer.

    Use horn shavings correctly

    In principle, the use of horn shavings is simple and involves no major risks. However, there are some aspects that you should consider. Various factors influence the effect of the fertilizer. With the right preparation and a well thought-out approach, you can positively influence the success of the fertilizer.

    When to apply horn shavings

    The first fertilization takes place in early spring

    The horn fertilizer can be applied between March and October. The sooner you fertilize, the more likely your plants will benefit from the available nutrients. If you use horn shavings in the fall after the beds have been harvested, the microorganisms can work until next spring. In this way, the newly planted plants benefit from available nutrients.

    when to fertilize

    • first fertilization between March and April
    • alternatively add horn shavings to the planting hole
    • Top-up fertilization in early June

    preparations

    Remove all weeds from the area before applying the fertilizing substrate. Horn shavings are not only an ideal source of nitrogen for crops and ornamental plants, but also provide unwanted weeds with nutrients. Above all, nitrogen-loving plants such as stinging nettles spread uncontrollably after organic fertilization. If you are mulching beds, you should mix the material with horn shavings. This will prevent you from removing too much nitrogen from the soil.

    dosage

    You can spread horn shavings without having to take the risk of over-fertilizing. Unlike chemical fertilizers, there is no risk of burning the roots of your plants. This phenomenon often happens when excessive amounts of salt accumulate in the soil due to a lack of water. Horn shavings are a safe fertilizer variant that is dosed differently in different areas of the garden.

    species How many horn shavings per m2? administration with
    ornamental plants Hydrangeas, roses and other flowering plants 30 to 60 grams sprinkle on the substrate
    medium-drug crops endive, chard, beetroot 30 to 60 grams a bucket of compost
    heavy-duty crops Tomatoes, cabbage, beets 80 to 100 grams two buckets of compost
    lawns Sport or ornamental lawn 30 to 50 grams sprinkle on the surface
    pome fruit apples, quinces, pears 70 to 100 grams 100 grams of algae lime and three liters of compost
    stone fruit Cherries, peaches, plums 100 to 130 grams 100 grams of algae lime and four liters of compost
    pot plants all balcony plants 10 to 20 grams a liter of soil

    Top fertilization of heavy feeders

    This variant involves fertilization with easily soluble and therefore quickly effective nitrogen. Since this is bound by other creatures or plants and can also be washed away by the rain, top fertilization is recommended as a top-up fertilization for plants that consume heavily, such as tomatoes. Extrapolated over the year, this group of plants tolerates five grams of nitrogen per square meter. This amount corresponds to about one tablespoonful of horn meal and is administered over four doses.

    What you should consider:

    • horn meal prevents fertilizer from being left on the leaves
    • this will prevent burns
    • first top dressing should be done as soon as young plants have grown a few centimeters high
    • Horn shavings, on the other hand, can be added to the planting hole as a long-term fertilizer
    • stop top dressing in time before the fruits ripen
    • Vegetables for storage should not be fertilized for a long time before harvest

    mission

    Spread the substrate evenly over the area by hand or spread the horn fertilizer around the base of the plant. Before sowing, you can sprinkle the substrate on the ground. As with all organic fertilizers, shallow incorporation into the soil is also important for horn shavings. In this way, the microorganisms can optimally decompose the substrate. This is necessary to make the bound nitrogen available to the plants.

    Be careful when fertilizing shrubs

    When planting shrubs and trees, horn shavings are best mixed with compost and added to the planting hole

    In principle, it is advisable to put the slow-release fertilizer in the hole before planting. With shrubs, there is a risk that the material will get too deep into the ground. Due to the lack of oxygen, there is less biological activity here and the chips are only insufficiently decomposed. To supply hedges and trees with nutrients, you should mix the horn fertilizer with compost and work the substrate into the soil. The compost accelerates the release of nitrogen and provides other important nutrients and trace elements.

    tips

    Rake the horn fertilizer about two inches deep into the soil. In this way you get the most efficient fertilizing effect possible.

    effect

    Because horn shavings are comparatively large, decomposition occurs slowly over a long period of time. After three months, the nitrogen and other nutrients are usually completely released so that they can be taken up by the plant roots via the soil solution. Over-fertilization is not possible because of the slow effect and the consistently high dosage. The finely ground horn meal, on the other hand, works faster. These organic fertilizers have a neutral pH, which is around 7.0.

    tips

    Horn shavings promote length growth and are not suitable for Mediterranean herbs such as lavender.

    What influences the fertilizing effect

    As an organic fertilizer variant, horn shavings depend on the activity of the microorganisms in the substrate. The condition of the soil and the weather have a decisive influence on the effect of the fertilizer. If the soil dries out too much, not only the plants but also the soil organisms suffer.Temperature and ventilation also play a role. During the vegetation phase, the microorganisms in the soil are more active than in winter. They depend on a good soil structure that is adequately aerated.

    Important for high efficiency:

    • Loosen the soil well before fertilizing so that aerobic microorganisms can work
    • Distribute very evenly, use spreading aid for large areas
    • Water the substrate well and keep it moderately moist

    Due to the factors mentioned, the decomposition takes place over a varying period of time, so that an immediate effect is not to be expected. But this fertilization is much more sustainable than the introduction of chemical artificial fertilizers.

    Advantages, disadvantages and opportunities

    Mineral fertilizers add more and more of the substance to the natural nitrogen cycle. Horn shavings, on the other hand, represent a sustainable and ecological fertilizer variant. The nitrogen resources are recycled and reintroduced into the natural cycle on the way to the nutrient supply. This optimal recycling of biodegradable substances prevents the nitrate content in drinking water from increasing too much or the growth of algae in ponds at an uncontrollable level.

    Horn shavings have these disadvantages:

    • Origin of animals for slaughter often unclear
    • The addition of "organic" does not guarantee that animals come from organic farming
    • cattle often come from factory farming and are supplied with large amounts of antibiotics
    • one-sided nutrient supply to the plants if only horn shavings are used

    make liquid fertilizer

    You can dissolve horn shavings in water to provide nitrogen for houseplants. This method is also suitable for lawns where it is not possible to work in the coarse material without damaging the dense vegetation. The liquid fertilizer can be quickly absorbed by the plants.

    Preparation:

    • Pour a liter of lukewarm water over a handful of shavings
    • Leave the brew in a warm place for about four days
    • strain and pour into a bottle
    • dilute with water before use
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    frequently asked Questions

    Can I scare rabbits away with horn shavings?

    Wild rabbits have a fine nose and are put off by intense smells. Many hobby gardeners swear by horn meal or shavings. The substrate is spread on the frequently visited areas or directly in the entrances to the rodent burrows. Good watering is necessary because when wet, the substrate gives off a strong aroma.

    Do horn shavings help against deer?

    For a short time, the intense smell of horn shavings also drives away deer that are tampering with the plants in the garden. However, the animals quickly get used to the source of the disturbance and return to the scene of the crime after some time. In winter, hunger is usually greater than fear anyway, so the deer test how far they can go. Therefore, use different deterrent measures alternately. For example, you can spray flowers and plants with buttermilk.

    Are horn shavings useful against clover?

    White clover has one major advantage over other plants. The species lives in symbiosis with so-called nodule bacteria, which bind nitrogen from the air and thus make it available for the plant. As a result, clover can prevail over grass on unfertilized areas. In order to slowly push back the unwanted weeds, you have to encourage the growth of the grass:

    • Long-term fertilizers such as horn shavings are unsuitable as an immediate measure
    • better use a direct acting nitrogen fertilizer
    • Ideally, fertilize the lawn regularly in March, June and September

    Another reason for excessive clover growth can be an elevated pH level, at which grasses no longer thrive luxuriantly. Lawn needs a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. With the help of a soil analysis, you can determine the area in which the value of your lawn lies.

    Are horn shavings poisonous?

    In principle, horn fertilizer is not toxic to dogs, cats or children. Dogs like the special smell that is given off by the protein-rich granules. They like to dig in the fertilized beds and eat the crumbs. However, the substrate is not popular with some dog owners. The reason for this are admixtures that are found in some horn shaving products. In order to turn the one-sided nutrient supplier into a complete fertilizer, castor meal is occasionally added. This can lead to vomiting and bloody diarrhea in dogs.

    Can horn shavings transmit BSE?

    Plants are not able to absorb whole proteins like the BSE pathogen. In order for this to get into the human organism, the protein would have to survive for months and pass into the food with the crumbs of earth clinging to the plants. This case is extremely unlikely. In addition, according to statements by the EU Commission, horn shavings are harmless with regard to BSE. Horn and hooves, from which the fertilizer is obtained, contain no nerve tissue and are therefore not suspect sources of transmission.

    Can I fertilize wine with horn shavings?

    Nitrogen is of central importance in the metabolism of the grapevine and has a major influence on growth and fruit development. The nutrient is present in different forms in the soil. Since only one to four percent of the bound nitrogen is released annually by microorganisms, an additional supply of horn shavings is recommended.

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