Horse Manure or Cow Manure for Fertilizing Gardens?
motherjan
13 years ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Horse vs. Cow manure
Comments (7)Last year was my first year gardening in raised beds. I filled the beds with a mixture of native soil (clay), compost (till it ran out), and horse stall sweepings from a friend's barns. There was quite alot of wood shavings in it. I did not have alot of trouble with weeds, though I think this had been piled up for "awhile". However, I believe the wood shavings tied up the nitrogen in the soil for that first season. I finally resorted to Miracle Grow to get a crop. By this year, it was all nicely broken down and I had a perfectly wonderful garden. Through a soil test, I learned that my soil is low in nitrogen to begin with, so maybe the shavings were less of a factor than I originally believed. At any rate, I would use it again for the way it conditioned my horribly sticky, tight clay soil. By spring it was positively loamy, with a minimal number of clods in it. I think what I learned is that when you're using manures, time is your best friend....See MoreHorse or Cow manure?
Comments (11)"I called several large stables and found that almost 99% wormed each horse every moth." I don't know how recently you checked into this, but in the last few years there have been significant changes in what is recommended by veterinarians in terms of worming programs for horses. We have 3 effective active ingredients for internal equine parasite, but the rate of resistance has become very alarming. There is a very concerted effort to change common equine management practices from a 6 times a year program (not monthly) to worming as needed based on fecal exams. I put my horses in this type of program a few years ago and now worm once a year. Other than what is now considered outdated methodology in terms of internal parasites, I haven't ever changed what meds my horse are on (mostly NOT on) because of the density of their boarding situation. I've never heard of anyone giving horses antibiotics or steroids in the same manner used for cattle. I've owed and cared for horses for 40 years. In my expererince with sport and pleasure horses the meds used most often would be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (NAISDs) I have no idea how they effect compost, but the equine versions are not dissimilar to what humans use. One of the problems I would think with manures of any type picked out of a field or open area is that it takes so little time for rainfall to leach all the nutrients from small patties into the soil leaving nothing but humus--which might not be bad, but might not be as good as what you are hoping for. As far as "never giving anything to his cattle" and letting them "live and die according to nature," I would not want to drive my truck on to a property with that type of animal husbandry practice much less load it up and take something from it home!...See MoreWhere do I find Horse or cow manure ?
Comments (10)I am continually amazed at what folks will order online or through the mail and the shipping charges they will pay. My nursery carries an excellent line of organic fertilizers and we have customers through our online store from all over the country that will pay 2-3 times the cost of the fertilizer just to have it shipped to them! Any local nursery or garden center as well as all the home improvement stores and discounters (Lowe's, HD, Walmart) will have bagged compost or manures available for sale and any will be suitable for amending the soil for rose plantings. Rather than layering a thickness in the bottom of the planting hole, incorporate it well over a larger area to the depth of the rootball. This will encourage the roots to expand freely and reduce soil interface issues, which can be a big concern in heavy or clay soils. Better yet, amend the entire planting area rather than individual holes - that is the preferred approach....See MoreFertilize with cow manure?
Comments (1)Hi Kate, I grow pumpkins and gourds. We live in the land of red clay, in SC. I fortify my garden spots with a mix of horse, chicken, and rabbit manure. It's all dried and crumbled well, and I just mix and mix it into the soil. As for cow manure, make sure it's well dried. Pumpkins have the 'sucker roots", as I call them, all down the vine. I believe, if you crumble it up good and sprinkle it under the mulch it will be beneficial. I wouldn't get it too heavy, though....See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years agosquirejohn zone4 VT
13 years agoFrozeBudd_z3/4
13 years agodiggerdee zone 6 CT
13 years agoetoniah
13 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
13 years agoflora2b
13 years agokimka
13 years ago
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