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Using and applying horn shavings, horn grit and horn meal / horn fertiliser correctly

Horn shavings are a proven organic fertiliser rich in nitrogen

Horn shavings are a natural ORGANIC nitrogen fertiliser for all plants in the garden. The difference between horn shavings, horn grit/horn meal and horn flour is the degree of grinding. The more finely horn fertiliser is ground, the faster it takes effect. Like other organic fertilisers, horn shavings are very easy to use and are not poisonous to people or pets. You cannot over-fertilise with horn shavings or horn fertiliser.

Besides being used directly as horn shavings, horn grit or horn meal, it is also the nitrogen-supplying component of many other organic fertilisers.

✓ Long-lasting effect, horn shavings can be applied in autumn for the spring
✓ Horn shavings and horn fertiliser are harmless to dogs and cats
✓ Shipping advantage: plants bought together with horn shavings arrive with free delivery

Ready-to-sell horn shavings in various pack sizes

Horn shavings: the longest-lasting effect of all organic fertilisers

The longest-lasting are the rather coarsely ground horn shavings with a very high nitrogen content of approx. 14%. They feed the soil over several months and promote plant growth sustainably.

Application is either directly at planting or in the following years by lightly working the horn shavings into the soil in spring, summer and even in early winter. As with other organic fertilisers, over-fertilising is hardly possible. Nevertheless, the amount of horn shavings should be chosen with care.

Especially for woody plants such as roses, which should ripen rather than grow before their winter dormancy, fertilising after August is no longer advisable. If horn shavings are applied in autumn/winter for the coming spring, this should only be done once the growth pause has begun, so generally not before the end of October, better in November or December.

Horn shavings take effect with a delay

With coarse horn shavings it is important to know that they only take effect after they have broken down in the soil. Because the shavings are much coarser than grit or meal, it takes approx. 4 months until the nutrients are available.

Fertilising with horn shavings requires thinking ahead:

horn shavings applied in autumn or early winter (Oct/Nov/Dec) promote new growth in spring
coarse horn fertiliser applied in spring (March) takes effect in high summer (for roses, at the repeat bloom)
in high summer, as a rule, no more horn shavings are applied

Horn shavings: horn-based fertiliser is approved for ORGANIC farming

When the strict rules of organic farming do not allow mineral artificial fertiliser, many commercial growers turn to organic, sustainable fertiliser based on horn shavings or horn meal.

Horn shavings: fertilising roses with horn shavings

Horn shavings are especially popular among rose lovers - no wonder, as the queen of flowers is a decidedly heavy feeder.

The nitrogen-rich horn is usually given together with compost, well-rotted manure or a liquid fertiliser to ensure a balanced supply of nutrients.

A very good alternative to pure horn shavings as a fertiliser for roses is a special rose fertiliser that already contains a balanced mix of nutrients and, thanks to its finer grind, can take effect faster.

Buy OSCORNA horn shavings

In our online shop we stock these horn fertilisers:

Horn shavings from Oscorna
with a grain size of 4-7 mm, 14% nitrogen (N14) and an application rate of 100 – 125 g/m²
in bags of 1 kg, 2.5 kg, 5 kg and 25 kg
Horn grit
with a grain size of up to approx. 4 mm, 14% nitrogen (N14) and an application rate of 100 – 150 g/m².
in a 25 kg sack
Horn meal
finely ground with 12% nitrogen (N12) and an application rate of 80 – 130 g/m².
in a 25 kg sack

These are packed in various pack sizes at the only German horn mill, in Ulm, or processed further into special fertilisers.

We ship the coarsely ground Oscorna horn shavings free of shipping costs within Germany. If you also order roses, clematis or other plants, these will likewise be delivered to you with free delivery.

Using and applying horn shavings correctly - here is how:

When should horn shavings be applied?

For roses and other woody plants, coarse horn shavings or horn grit are applied in autumn and spring. The autumn application becomes available after the winter, at the start of new growth, and replaces or supplements the spring fertilising. Horn shavings applied in spring also need some time before they become available to the plant and thus effective. For repeat-flowering roses this is roughly the time after the first bloom, so it acts as a summer fertiliser.

Vegetables and other crops that are only sown or planted in spring are usually supplied with horn shavings at planting. Ideally they are applied together with more finely ground - and therefore faster-acting - horn fertiliser such as OSCORNA Animalin.

How are horn shavings used?

Spread the horn shavings (or other horn fertiliser such as grit) evenly around the plants. Work the shavings into the soil, not too deeply, by hand or with a suitable tool. If no rain is forecast, you should water.

How long do horn shavings last?

The duration of effect depends on the grade of coarseness. Finely ground horn meal or horn-based fertiliser (e.g. OSCORNA rose fertiliser) acts faster but does not last as long. Coarse shavings or horn grit only take effect once decomposition and conversion in the soil begin, but then keep working for several weeks.

Can you over-fertilise with horn shavings?

With horn-based fertilisers, horn shavings and horn grit, the nutrients (nitrogen - N) are released as soil life breaks them down. This is usually slow; only the amount that can actually be decomposed is converted and made available to the fertilised plants. Because of this natural limit, over-fertilising is not possible, unlike with mineral fertiliser.