How to Use Rabbit Pellets in Your Garden Soil
Commonly called rabbit pellets, rabbit manure makes an ideal and convenient supplement for your garden soil. According to Dr. George Dickerson, Extension Horticulture Specialist at New Mexico State University, you don't have to compost rabbit pellets before adding them to your garden, unlike other types of animal manure. Most pet rabbits consume commercial rabbit food, which gives rabbit manure the added benefit of being less likely than horse or cow manure to contain weed seeds. The key to using rabbit pellets in your garden soil is to mix it in with your soil completely so it can release nutrients quickly for your plants to use. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find a rabbit pellet source. If you have rabbits of your own, use their pellets. Depending upon the size of your garden, however, you may need additional sources of rabbit manure. If there are commercial rabbit breeders in your area, ask them if they would be willing to let you have rabbit pellets. Commercial animal producers are usually more than willing to share animal manure, especially if you're willing to haul it yourself. Talk to your county Cooperative Extension office to find local 4-H rabbit groups that might provide rabbit pellets.
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Collect rabbit pellets for your garden. Start a pile of rabbit manure in a convenient location near your garden. Don't worry if the rabbit manure is mixed with bedding such as straw, old hay or sawdust; these materials will break down in your garden with the rabbit manure and enrich the soil for your plants. Stockpile enough rabbit manure to cover your garden with about 1 to 2 inches of it.
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Spread the rabbit manure on your garden. Use a garden rake to spread the pellets across the surface of your garden in an even sheet. Do this during any season, but it will probably be more convenient in the fall after you have harvested all your plants.
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Mix the rabbit pellets into your garden soil. Use a hoe to dig up the first 2 to 3 inches of your garden soil, pushing and turning the rabbit pellets to mix them thoroughly with the soil. If you're adding the rabbit pellets during the growing season, leave the rabbit pellets as a mulch around your plants to avoid exposing the plant roots and damaging them by digging.
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