Welcome Idaho.....from what I've read bone meal is very slow acting and takes time to break down and become available to the plant. It is primarily phosphorus and calcium and often soil contains sufficient amounts of these. Working it into the planting hole well would probably make it available more quickly but both methods could work. Visit google and read some of the information there. I sometimes use bulb fertilizers which contain bone meal with success. I visited an Iris garden here in Utah once which was on sandy soil, The owner banded her clumps with super phosphate. Her bloom was amazing with varieties which were normally short growing nice and tall. Now is not the ideal time to plant but the sooner the better, Water in well after planting and place a rock on the rhizome to keep it from frost heaving. We look forward to chatting with you in the future
