Manure creates nutrient-rich, moisture-retaining soil for your plants.
The most common sources of manure are cows, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry.
(Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or fertilizer today.)
See our chart below for the best type of manure for your garden—and the best time to apply.
| Type of Garden | Best Type of Manure | Best Time to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Flower | cow, horse | early spring |
| Vegetable | chicken, cow, horse | fall, spring |
| Potato or root crop | chicken, cow, horse | fall, spring |
|
Acid-loving plants (blueberries, azaleas, mountain laurel, rhododendrons) |
cow, horse | early fall or not at all |






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Comments
Hi ! I am a blueberry grower
Hi ! I am a blueberry grower and got some well aged sheep manure ( mixed with straw bedding). When is the best time of year and how to apply it to my bluberry field.Most of the bushes are 6 years old but also have some just planted. Thanks !
I was wondering about Rabbit
I was wondering about Rabbit manure... People have told me that it is great, and doesn't have to be 'aged'... Is this true and how is it best used?
I use it all the time....I
I use it all the time....I have rabbits & it doesn't burn like other manure. It's fine just the way it is.
It's hard to say if this is
It's hard to say if this is true or not because adding any manure directly to your garden without aging can be problematic. All manures differ, so it's hard to give exact advice on how to best use it.
It is recommended though that rabbit manure be composted with plant material waste before being added to the soil. Composting the manure helps make the most use out of its nutritional potential.
I hope this helps!
How long does chicken manure
How long does chicken manure need to 'age' before it can be used in the garden?
Dear Almanac, I have heard
Dear Almanac,
I have heard that earthworm casts is good fertilizer. Can you give me more specifics on how to use it?
One way you can use earthworm
One way you can use earthworm casts is to top dress your soil with a 1/2-inch to 1-inch layer of earthworm casts. For potted plants, use about 1/3 casts to 2/3 potting soil.
You can also just place earthworm casts alongside your plants. This is helpful if your plants are in rows.
I hope this helps!
Can you toss pine shavings in
Can you toss pine shavings in the garden along with the chicken manure?
Sure, you can! Just don't put
Sure, you can! Just don't put hot manure in your garden. Make sure it is aged, otherwise it will burn your plants. Another thing to remember is that chicken manure is very high in Nitrogen, so you may need to amend it accordingly with carbon supplements. Depending on the makeup, the shavings may take a while to decompose. Good luck!
I use the Black Cow and Black
I use the Black Cow and Black Hen. Are they
sufficient enough to throw around flowers and small tomatoes and peppers? I am 50 miles from Columbia SC.
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