If you have been a part of a gardening discussion on social media or in your community, you might have come across the question, ‘what is the best manure.’ There are a number of different perspectives people have about this. While some say chicken manure is amazing, others believe it is too hot and might burn your plants.
On the other hand, horse manure should be used fresh, while cow manure needs to be fermented. You will find a range of answers to this question. While there is no one answer for this, there are some ways you can easily determine which the best manure for the garden is. If you, too, are going through this dilemma, here are some properties of the main types of manure you can find in the industry.
Types of Manure
You might get manure from all kinds of animals, but each has different properties. In order for it to break down effectively or kill any unwanted seeds, it should be able to reach an ideal temperature (140 degrees Fahrenheit at least) for a sustained period. The time required further differs depending on the type of animal manure you are using.
Further mentioned here are the few common types of manure you can add to your garden.
Chicken Manure:
Typically, chicken manure is considered to be the best for gardens. It comes with a high content of nitrogen, which is essential for all plants. However, it can often reach high temperatures and burn the plants. This is why it should be composted and aged well. It is best applied during spring or fall after it has composted well.
Cow Manure:
Cow manure has amazing fertilizer qualities and is filled with organic matter. It helps improve the aeration and further break up compacted soils. However, you must make sure that you have composted cow manure beforehand for the best results.
Sheep Manure:
Sheep manure can be a good choice because of its high nitrogen content. The only drawback is that it lacks in certain other macro-nutrients, which can be a deal-breaker for you. That said, its pellet size allows it to waste and compost sooner.
Horse Manure:
Horse and cow manure have similar effects on the plant as well as the soil. This is mainly because they have a similar nutrient content. However, horse manure can take longer to compost, given its larger size. In addition to that, the weed seeds the animal digest make it harder to age.
In Conclusion
These are some of the best manures you can use for your garden. However, the best manure for you mainly depends on what you can avail of easily. Before using any, you must understand how it functions, what nutrients your plants need and how the manure will affect the soil. Make sure you have allowed the manure to compost fully before adding it to the soil. Ensuring these can help you choose the ideal option of the many present.
