How to Make Horse Manure Fertilizer

Horse manure can make a wonderful organic fertilizer for flower gardens. Even if you don't own horses, chances are, you can easily find horse owners willing to give manure away for free. The average horse can produce up to 50 lbs. of manure a day, so most horse farms are overrun with the stuff. Here are some guidelines for collecting and processing it to use in flower beds.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shovel
• Access to a supply of horse manure
• Bone meal

1. Find a supply of horse manure. If you don't have horses, ask about getting some from a horse farm or boarding facility. Most people will be happy for you to take it, especially if you are willing to shovel it out of the barn or field yourself.

2. Make several piles of the collected horse manure in an area near the flower garden if possible. Using a shovel, break up the manure as much as possible.

3. Add a ratio of one part bone meal to three parts manure to each pile. Work the bone meal in thoroughly with the shovel.

4. Apply a thin layer of the manure mixture from one pile around plants and in the flower beds. Apply the manure about a half inch thick, and using the shovel, work the fertilizer into the soil slightly.

5. Use a thin layer of horse manure fertilizer around plants once a month during the growing season.

Tips & Warnings

• Weeds can sometimes be introduced from uncomposted horse manure, so watch for and pull any weeds before they become a problem.