By Debra Turner
Rate: (1 Ratings)
Liquid organic fertilizer is remarkably easy to make, and incredibly beneficial for your plants.Often referred to as “manure tea,” I find that it’s easier to use than solid manure products because it’s fed directly to the plant by watering with it. No spreading of material is needed for this method of fertilizing, and you don’t have to work it into the soil.
Store-bought cow manure.
Well-cured cow manure can be obtained in a couple of different ways. You can purchase it by the bag at any garden supply center, hardware store, or home improvement center.
Cow manure is much preferred over horse manure.
You can grab your trusty garden spade and a 5-gallon bucket, and head over to the residence of any cow, bull or steer that you are acquainted with. If you have not yet been formally introduced to the animal(s) you are considering, just knock on the front door of the nearest human residence, as this will probably be the home of the bovine’s owner. If you ask the owner politely, he or she will most likely be more than happy to allow you to head out into the back 40 and help yourself to all the cow poop you want.
Fresh cow poop plop.
If there are also horses in the pasture, make sure that you are not picking up their poop. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s also a beneficial fertilizer -- but doesn’t even run a close second to Bossy’s droppings.(For the uninitiated, cow plops are loose and kind of runny. Horse poops form solid, rounded balls a little bigger than a golf ball.)
Well-cured (aged) cow manure.
Look for cow plops that have already dried and may even be really firm to the touch (yes, touch -- so wear gloves). If it’s fresh and wet, it will produce a solution that is much too strong and which will probably “burn” your plants.That’s why it’s important to use manure that is “well-cured,” or “aged.”
Any large container approximating the size of a big trash can works well.
Begin by deciding where to place your trash can full of developing fertilizer, because it will need to spend several days in the spot that you choose.Although it doesn’t really matter whether you place the container in the shade or in a sunny locale, you might want to put it where it’s not going to be in your way.Once situated, fill the trash can with water to within about 6 inches from the top.
An old pillow case is the perfect poo-brewer.
Now take that old pillow case that you hate, but that you didn’t really want to throw away, and dump 3-4 gallons of the cow manure into it.You don’t have to be scientifically precise here -- “sorta-kinda” will work. But if you’re questioning what “3-4 gallons” of manure looks like, just use any old 1-gallon container to help you approximate the measurement.Tie a loose knot in the pillow case close to the packaged poo -- yes, containing it like a sort of teabag.
The mild Ivory liquid will make the water "stickier."
When the time is “ripe” (pun intended), remove the bag of manure from the can of water. (Don’t discard the manure, though -- scatter it thinly throughout any area that you think might benefit from it. Or just toss it into the compost heap.)Now dump into the poopy water ½ cup of plain Ivory dish liquid and 4 cups of Epsom Salt. Stir the solution well -- your garden spade will serve nicely for this activity.
Don't worry, you won't need a lid for the 5-gal. bucket.
Dip several gallons of this solution into a 5-gallon bucket, and dilute it with water until it’s the color of weak tea.
Article By: Debra Turner