Manure is a useful, bulky, and nutritious soil improver and a valuable source of organic matter. It can improve the structure of all types of soil, boosting its water and nutrient holding capacity.
Manure is not the same as fertilizer. Although it does contain a certain amount of nutrients, the levels are lower than those of fertilizer and are present in variable amounts.
What is manure?Manure for garden use is animal poo mixed with their bedding, which is material such as straw or wood shavings. Combined, these have been composted or left to rot down for at least six months, preferably a year if woody shavings have been used for bedding. The phrase “well-rotted manure” is often used to emphasise this, as fresh manure isn’t suitable to use as it would scorch plant roots and the bedding material wouldn’t have broken down.
“Green manure” is the term used to describe plants that are sown and grown specifically for the purpose of digging in and improving the soil. They have the same role as animal manures – that is they help improve the structure and nutrient holding capacity of soil, but they do so without the use of animals. Many vegan or ethically conscious gardeners use green manures instead of animal manures.
Different types of manureHorse manure
Horse manure is a good, easy-to-use manure with a sweet fragrance and no sticky residue, and is widely available from local stables but is rarely available from garden centres and other retailers. Be aware of several potential disadvantages: locally sourced horse manure is likely to contain weed seeds, both from hay that they’ve eaten and from wind-blown seed when stacked outside. It may also have been contaminated with weedkiller, which lasts for a long time and could cause plant
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