Horse manure is a popular fertilizer in agriculture. Horse manure is nevertheless beneficial for building humus and providing nutrients in your own garden. But not every garden plant tolerates the fertilizer. We give you valuable tips and show you what to pay attention to when using horse manure as fertilizer.
When is horse manure recommended as fertilizer?
Horse manure is an organic fertilizer rich in magnesium and trace elements. It is ideal for improving sandy soil. Among other things, it promotes humus reproduction. Litter such as horn shavings and hay mixes with urine and horse manure. Because horn shavings stand alone suitable fertilizer represent, the nutrient supply improves accordingly as the proportion increases.
If you use horse manure as fertilizer, the method of application is crucial. The fertilizer should only ever cover the surface of the beds in thin layers. If you dig too deep, you run the risk that the horse manure will attack the roots of plants too much and air circulation will no longer be guaranteed. This would in turn become… mold of the substance.
Fresh horse manure
A distinction must be made between the use of fresh and composted horse manure. Fresh horse manure is significantly harsher, contains a high fertilizer content and is only suitable for robust plants. Fresh horse manure is a suitable choice, especially for humus-forming measures.
Robust plants include, for example: Roses, but also heavy feeders among vegetable plants. The growth of medium feeders can also be promoted through the use of stable manure. But only in moderate quantities.
If you want to fertilize vegetable plants with horse manure, please check the fertilizer for pests beforehand. It is not uncommon for horse manure to also contain antibiotics or Pests that harm our health would. Anyone who fertilizes food with horse manure should be very careful and also know the animal’s husbandry and diet. However, you can easily fertilize summer green hedge plants with fresh horse manure.
Also be aware that horse manure contains high levels of nitrogen. Not every plant reacts positively to nitrogen. For example, come Strawberries primroses or lavender do well without a high supply of nitrogen.
By the way: Fresh horse manure is particularly suitable as fertilizer in the winter months.
Composted horse manure
You can also use composted horse manure in the spring. Horse manure takes up to a year to rot and then compost to serve as fertilizer in your own garden. Composted horse manure has the advantage that it loses its pungency. This means that the nutrients can also be used by plants for which the fertilizer content of fresh horse manure is too high. Incidentally, in composted form, horse manure is perfect for supplementing plant soil, both in… Container cultures as well as directly in the bed.
Decide before that Composting Whether the horse manure should be composted individually or together with food waste. If recycled together, there is a risk that the horse manure will contain antibiotics, eggs or pests that could make the entire compost unusable. We therefore always recommend using horse manure only for garden plants that are not used as food or food source serve.
If you want to fertilize with horse manure even though there is no riding stable nearby, you can purchase it. The Fertilizers are already prepared by the industry and can be used in doses. It is of course cheaper to collect the horse manure fresh. Even a walk in the field can prove useful.
When not to use horse manure
Fresh horse manure can certainly be used as fertilizer, but under no circumstances in beds. In the worst case, wireworms, onion flies and carrot flies can hide or settle in horse manure. The harvest of potatoes and carrots in particular would be at great risk. In general, it should be questioned to what extent stable manure is even suitable for fertilizing food. Poor eaters should also not come into contact with horse manure. The fertilizer is too harsh for them. In principle, however, horse manure is also approved for fertilizing food and supplies it with nutrients. Flavors can also be enhanced by the fertilizer.
However, horse manure is not always a good choice for sandy soils that require maintenance. Because there may be traces of weeds in the droppings. The beautiful ground areas would be adorned with weeds in the future and that Fight weeds againis a feat of strength that is not always successful.
If you use horse manure for fertilization, this can definitely improve the soil quality and humus formation. However, you should always be aware of the potential consequences.
Which plants you can fertilize with horse manure
Hardy plants that prefer high nitrogen levels can benefit from horse manure as fertilizer. The application takes place in late autumn or early winter months. Fertilization provides the plants with important nutrients for up to two years.
The following list gives you a good overview of plants that horse manure is beneficial for:
- Woody plants: berry bushes, fruit trees
- Vegetable plants: tomatoes, cucumbers, onions
- Ornamental plants: roses, Hydrangeasperennials, orchids
- Greened arable land and lawns
Conclusion
Certain plants can certainly be fertilized with horse manure. However, you should be aware that not every plant or certain foods should not be fertilized with horse manure. Always ensure that the manure is of appropriate quality and purity! A distinction must also be made between fresh and composted horse manure. With the help of our Gardening tips But you should now be well informed about whether and how you can use horse manure as fertilizer!
FAQ
Horse manure should only ever cover the surface of beds in thin layers.
Because of its spiciness, fresh horse manure is only suitable for robust plants that require a high nitrogen content. These include, for example, roses, heavy feeders or summer green hedge plants.
Fertilization with horse manure can be suitable for certain woody plants, vegetable and ornamental plants and green fields and lawns.
The horse manure is spread in late autumn or early winter months. Fertilization provides the plants with important nutrients for up to two years.
