Just fork it in very gently on the surface

I really wouldn't worry about it - I have a blog on bonemeal which you might like to read if you've time. I've never bothered to ever buy it again since I did my training. The best thing to incorporate into the ground before planting any permanent trees or shrubs is, and always has been, humus rich materials such as well rotted manures, soil conditioning composts, garden compost, etc. All these can be applied as a mulch around the base, with perhaps a sprinkling of blood, fish and bone beneath. Do not, though, heap up around the trunk of the plant.

Thanks for the help guys. The lady at the garden center yesterday told me the Lilac probably wouldn't survive because I had left it out, and since I had bought another Lilac and two Hydrangeas I thought I better grab a bag. I now am wondering if it wasn't just a scare/cash grab thing.

Thanks Inverglen.

Thanks Bamboo.

I really appreciate the advice.

No way! If that's what she told you, that's blooming outrageous, good job I wasn't behind you in the queue, I'd have had to intervene in a forcible manner. I'd be returning the bonemeal because they've sold it under false pretences and making a complaint at the same time, they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

We live on a isolated island, so to actually travel back to the garden center to return it would cost me more than it's actually worth. I do now know not to be going back there and to go to our other local nursery.

I agree. To say that it would not survive because you didn't use bone meal is just ridiculous. What sort of stupid scaremongering advice is that ?