My neighbor generously gave me some amazing nine-year-old aged cow manure, which looks just like rich black soil now. He dumped it right into my raised bed, and it's looking great! I'm wondering if I can use this manure as the sole growing medium, or do I need to mix in some topsoil? I'm also curious about using more manure for my in-ground garden and hugelkultur mound; is that okay too?
3 Answers
Honestly, if it’s that old, you’re probably good to go! Aged cow manure is usually safe to use since it breaks down well and shouldn’t cause issues.
If it’s been aged for that long and looks like good black soil, you should be fine! Some people even say it’s gentler than other manure types. Still, maybe mixing in a bit of soil wouldn't hurt just to balance it out a little.
I wouldn't recommend going 100% with just cow manure. It's best to mix it at least 50/50 with soil to avoid any potential issues. Too much manure can lead to problems with burning plants or nutrient imbalance.
Nooo! I had a feeling I'd have to shovel some out. Would it really burn my plants even if it’s aged, or is it more about the nutrients being off?
That's a good idea! Maybe letting it sit outside for another season will help stabilize it even more before planting.