Aged Horse Manure Uses
Aged horse manure has many nutrients and good bacteria that will help your garden grow. Whether you are growing plants, vegetables or flowers, aged horse manure is an inexpensive fertilizer with many benefits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Time Frame
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Horse manure requires time to age before using it in your garden. It heats up during this process. The manure takes about three to six weeks to age in the winter and one to three months to age in the summer before it can be mixed with your soil.
Identification
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Aged horse manure is dry and crumbly, light tan or brown in color and has a mild aroma. Fresh horse manure is bright green and has a pungent odor.
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Function
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Aged horse manure functions as a fertilizer, either by itself or mixed with compost. Do not plant directly into the manure; instead, use it to enhance the soil as you would any other type of fertilizer.
Benefits
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Aged horse manure regulates the pH levels in soil and supports worms and good bacteria. It also improves water retention and aeration.
Warning
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Do not use fresh manure in a garden. Fresh manure releases nitrogen and ammonia that can harm young plants and roots.
Fun Fact
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About 75 percent to 90 percent of plant nutrients animals consume are excreted in their manure.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ted Percival
