Horse manure and how best to use it

The horse has always been humanity’s most important ally. For thousands of years we used it for heavy work in the fields and forests. Over time its place among domesticated animals has improved, and today we are more likely to see it at competitions or races.  Horse manure has unique nutrients, which you can easily use in your garden too. This kind of “doughnut” is packed with nitrogen in particular, which is used mainly by leafy vegetables, garlic and Brussels sprouts. If you have plenty of it, use it as mulch as well. Believe us, there is nothing better for a lawn! But be careful and pay attention to the condition of the horse manure you use.

Why is horse manure a threat?

Don’t overdo anything! Fresh horse manure contains a whole range of nutrients, which is why it is so valuable. However, it also contains bacteria and weed seeds. That is why, in the long term, we do not recommend using it in the garden, as it could harm the garden over time. Use composted manure instead, which you can buy in bags at garden centres.

Best avoided on flowering plants

Because horse manure contains a large amount of nitrogen, treat it as a nitrogen fertiliser. Using it on any plants that produce flowers is best avoided. So if you grow roses or admire blue hydrangeas, it is better not to give them any nitrogen at all.  Forget about cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes too, as they would not thank you for it either. Nitrogen mainly promotes the growth and development of the green parts of plants.  

Have you come across pelleted horse manure? There is less to worry about with that. You can use it at any time during the growing season, as it helps to improve soil fertility, enriching the soil with humus and creating favourable conditions for root development. These pellets have already been dried, so you do not need to worry about pathogens either. Storage is also trouble-free.   

Composting horse manure

Leave the horse manure in a heap for at least three months, ideally as far from your house as possible. Feel free to add other ingredients such as coffee grounds, green plant waste and grass clippings. Remember that the heap should stay moist the whole time, and try to turn it every week to speed up decomposition. It should heat up to 80 degrees Celsius and stay that way for several weeks. This is to destroy bacteria and weed seeds. Don’t forget that the longer the compost matures, the better it will be.

Using horse manure in a greenhouse

As we have already mentioned, it is best used before the start of the growing season. However, you can also use it as a top dressing before the growing season.  Try it, for example, in a Victorian greenhouse! It is best to mix it with compost first. Thanks to the heat it gives off, it can warm the soil by several degrees, so you can even use fresh manure. It will hold in the warmth and the climate, and your greenhouse will stay pleasant even when it is cold outside. And how can you use horse manure to prepare for winter? Before you close up your cottage for the winter, work it into dug-over soil. As a result, the soil in your greenhouse will be of very high quality and stay that way.

The best manure for strawberries, our TIP!

If you are looking for great manure for your strawberries, horse manure is the best choice. Prepare the beds where you grow strawberries as early as the end of summer. Strawberries love organic fertilisers, so horse or cow manure is an ideal choice. In spring, add composted manure. When your plants start to sprout, use manure again. However, be careful not to scorch the young plants. Pelleted horse manure is the best solution here.

All manure has to be handled with care, but the result is definitely worth it. Stick to the rules and you will soon achieve your goal. The harvest will be very promising.