About Manure
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A load of fresh manure or "Black Gold" is a gardener's idea of pure gold. But before you use this treasure from horses, cows or pigs, you need to age or cure it; otherwise, the heat it generates will burn plants' delicate roots.How To Cure Manure
Find your source. A nearby dairy farm or riding stable usually will give you a truckload or two, or sell it for next to nothing. Gardeners prize horse manure above all other kinds, but cows and pigs also produce excellent plant food.
Pick up the manure in a truck or arrange to have it delivered. If you start curing your supply in the fall, it will be ready to use by spring planting time.
Spread a tarpaulin on the ground and dump the manure on top.
Fold the edges of the tarp up around the pile of manure.
Put another tarp on top and weight it with rocks or boards.
Cut two or three small vents in the tarp to let heat escape.
Wait six months, then disburse the riches throughout your garden.
Ensure a constant supply by starting a new pile every two or three months.
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Chicken manure
Poultry manure (chicken in particular) is the richest animal manure. Chicken manure is considered "hot" and must be composted before adding it to the garden. Otherwise, it will burn any plants it comes in contact with.
Dairy manure is preferable to steer manure, which has a higher salt and weed seed content. Though cow manure has low nutrient numbers, that's what makes ist safe to use in unlimited quantities.
Goat manure
Goat manure is mild enough to use immediately; no curing necessary. So are rabbit droppings (a plant's idea of miracle food). Simply spread them on the ground, scratch them into the soil surface and add water.
Horse manure
Horse manure is about half as rich as chicken manure, but richer in nitrogen than cow manure. And, like chicken droppings, it's considered "hot". Horse manure often contains a lot of weed seeds, which means it's a good idea to compost it using a hot composting method.Steer manureSteer manure is one of the old standbys, but it's not the most beloved because it often contains unwanted salts and weed seeds.
Pig manure
Use pig manure only if you know the animals have been fed grain and vegetables, not fat-laden table scraps that can attract disease organisms.
Rabbit manure
Rabbit manure is even higher in nitrogen than some poultry manures and it also contains a large amount of phosphorus--important for flower and fruit formation.
Sheep manure
Sheep manure is another "hot" manure. It is somewhat dry and very rich. Manure from sheep fed hay and grain will be more potent than manure from animals that live on pasture.
***Never use dog or cat droppings in your garden; the produce of even the healthiest pets often contains disease organisms.
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Fertilize your garden. This is one of the most common uses for horse manure. Compost your manure and then mix it with your gardening and potting soil in flower beds. Spread it over your garden or croplands.
Mound it around tree trunks. The composted manure will not only fertilize, but will deter weed growth and help hold moisture.
Mix it with footing in your arena, round-pen and riding trails to soften and deepen the footing. Who needs bark?
Make organic fly repellent. If you have the room, spread horse manure in a single layer across a large area and turn it a few times. Once it is dry (lightweight and papery), pile it up and burn it to create fly-repelling smoke.
De-ice paddocks, runs and even your driveway. Decomposing manure creates impressive amounts of heat, even in the dead of winter. Dip into the core of your manure pile and spread the toasty-warm remains on inconvenient icy patches.
Fill holes and low spots with manure. Toss manure and even shavings in there and pack it down. Continue to add manure, as it settles, until you have leveled your land.
Share the wealth. Pass your manure unto others. Ask friends if they could use any manure, or support local businesses by donating it to farmers, landscapers or even the parks department.
Market your manure. After you have used manure and donated manure, and you have still more manure, market it. Hotels, resorts and other businesses may be willing to strike up a contract with you and take manure off your hands.
Contact a local manure-removal service. Run an Internet search, or check county listings in your phone book. This usually has a cost attached, but is worth it if you are facing complete manure takeover.
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MANURE TEA
Manure Tea is the colored water that manure has been steeped in. The nutrients from the manure dissolve into the water, making a concentrated Liquid Garden Fertilizer. You may find Rabbit Manure to be much less aromatic than most other manures, and the Tea likewise.
Use it to dip every new plant before you transplant them. Dip only the root ball, until bubbles quit coming to the surface of the Tea container.
Also use Tea to wet furrows before planting, and fill holes with it before you plant trees or shrubs. Wait until it dissipates before you plant, to allow the nutrients to permeate the nearby soil. Also submerge root balls of trees and shrubs into it until the bubbles stop rising, before planting them. We're betting your Gardening success will improve.
***To make the Tea, put five quarts of manure on a 3' X 3' square of burlap or other porous cloth that will act as a strainer to separate the solids from the liquid. Tie the four corners of the burlap together to form a bag. Put the bag in a 5-gallon bucket and add three gallons of warm water. Allow it to steep in the warm sunshine for a week. Remove the bag and suspend it above the bucket until it stops dripping.
You can speed up the process by putting manure directly into the water for 3 days, stirring daily.
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