Use horse manure correctly in raised beds

If you want to create your raised bed ecologically and naturally, you have to pay attention to the right fertilizer. So previously prepared horse manure is well suited to stimulate the plants in the raised bed to grow healthily.

ingredients

Depending on how the horses are fed and the amount of litter in the manure, the nutrients it contains can vary greatly. Usually, however, the ratio is well balanced and will suit almost any plant. Fresh horse manure contains:

• about 0.6 percent nitrogen
• 0.3 percent phosphate
• 0.5 percent potassium
• as well as a part of magnesium

Note: Unlike cattle or sheep, horses are poor feed converters. This means that they cannot digest the plants as well. This aspect of horse manure is a great advantage, especially for fertilization in raised beds or gardens in general.

time

It is important to choose the right time to apply fertilizer from horse manure. Because of the substances it contains, which could damage the vegetable plants in the bed, this is important:

• dig in the ground in the raised bed in autumn
• then the dung can decompose over the winter
• Be sure to remove the harmful straw beforehand
• important nutrients are available in spring
• harmful substances could be washed out
• Do not use in spring with vegetables and herbs
• then the crap decomposes too late
• the harmful substances reach the roots
• Vegetables could die

Note: It is better not to use the horse manure fresh immediately after receiving it. It is better if you let this be deposited for about six months or order directly deposited horse manure for the raised bed.

Composting

Many gardeners also go here and compost the manure they receive from horses. This is a great way for the manure to decompose well before fertilizing if mixed with other organic wastes:

• put on separately
• do not mix with normal compost
• add other organic material such as leaves if necessary
• Chopped shrub pruning is also suitable
• should compost for at least 12 months
• Do not dig up in between
• if the pile smells earthy and if it turns dark brown, it is composted
• can be lifted under in the raised bed
• can also be used for vegetables in spring

Note: Make sure that the manure heap that you have made in a corner for composting does not exceed a meter. Because the pile can get very hot at times as it rots.

Prepare raised bed for horse manure

Once the manure has been well composted, the soil can be prepared for the beds. Was a Newly built raised bed, using the compost to fold it in is easier than with an existing one:

• right time in late winter
• Mix soil and compost from manure
• use normal garden soil for this
• two parts earth and one part compost
• fill the lower part of the raised bed with gravel
• normal garden soil above
• Fill the top 1/3 with a mixture of manure and compost
• Plants can be planted or sown immediately

Horse manure in an existing raised bed

If a raised bed that has already existed for a long time is to be prepared with the compost from horse manure, then proceed as follows:

• Dig up the empty bed above
• Remove 1/3 of the garden soil
• Mix 1: 2 with the compost
• put back in the bed
• Planting or sowing plants

Horse manure in a planted bed

If it is a raised bed that is cultivated with perennial plants, then the can composted horse manure cannot simply be folded in, as this will damage the roots could:

• Spread manure compost on the soil
• Apply all around between the plants
• Spread well with a small hand rake
• Carefully fold in slightly
• Apply a layer of about two centimeters
• Nutrients get to the roots with irrigation water

Note: You don't have to worry about an unpleasant smell as the compost stays on top. Because if it is well done, it smells pleasantly earthy and no longer like horse manure.

frequently asked Questions