- Some gardening books recommend using bone meal to promote good root growth and flowering. Made up of ground animal bones, bone meal adds calcium and phosphorus to the soil. Both these elements are needed for plant growth, but they're rarely lacking in non-agricultural soil. High concentrations of either element is harmful to plants; in particular, too much phosphorus inhibits the growth of beneficial fungi in the soil.
- Rose of Sharon is an easy shrub to grow, performing well in poor or compacted soil. Its main requirement is moist, well-drained soil. Over-fertilization of the plant causes bud drop and encourages aphid infestations, according the the U.S. Forest Service's fact sheet.
- The best way to determine if your Rose of Sharon will benefit from applications of bone meal is to do a soil test, which will indicate if your soil is deficient in phosphorus or calcium. Chances are that your soil is fine and bone meal is unnecessary.
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