Here's one of the quickest ways to cure manure for garden use - and as Connie said - go for the manure from multiple tummy critters first!

Step1) Spread a big tarpaulin on the ground, dump the manure on top. Fold up the edges of the tarp around the manure.

Step 2) Lay another tarp acros the top and add a few rocks, so that it stays put. Cut 3 or 4 slits in that tarp, so the heat can get out.

Step 3) Let it sit for six months or so, and - presto! - you've got the best food a garden could ask for!

 

Something you can do with small amounts of manure that is not cured - make a "tea" to water your plants with - Put 2 cups manure and 1/2 cup instant tea granules in the toe of an old stocking or hose, let it steep in 5 gallons of water for several days. When using the mix, dilute 1 cup of "tea" to 4 cups water. This is so mild, you can even use it on seedlings.

 

 

DizzyD %-}                   

  Lavender Poppy

 Manure is one of the best materials you can add to your compost pile.  Goat manure is great!  A good rule of thumb for aging is about 6 months, or when the manure is dark, crumbly and no longer smells like manure.  It's ideal to spread it in fall on vegetable gardens, or pile and let it age. 

Cow, sheep, llama, and goat manure are best because they have multiple stomachs... this breaks down the weed seeds better.  Horse manure should be aged for a couple years... some say 3-5.  You may be planting a lot of weeds if you don't.  Manures to avoid would be manures from carnivores (cat, dog, human, pig), because of possible dangerous pathogens/desease. 

 

 ~ Connie    ~ Zone 5    ~ MN 

Great point - I knew you weren't supposed to put meat products in your compost but I couldn't remember why.  I never thought about the bacteria and weed issue with manure.  That's a great point.  I will remember that!  I've always bought mine in a  mix at Lowe's or Home Depot or somewhere like that so never thought much about the issues with curing it until now. Thanks!!

 

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I think that with animal manure, you wouldn't be safe unless you allowed it to cure for a fairly long time. Any manure from animals that graze on grass, alfalfa or any product that has seeds that could potentially sprout should be allowed to cure for quite a while. You want to kill the bacteria and you want to make sure you're not putting a manure in your garden that's going to give you so many weeds that the benefit of the manure would pale in comparison. I've always heard that with animal manure, a year is a good amount of time. Remember, some animals are carriers of very harmful bacteria like e-coli. To make sure it's safe, you'd want it to be able to bake in a hot sun for quite a while. This is one of the reasons home gardeners are always instructed NOT to put meat or dairy products in their compost piles.

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