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In the world of gardening, the choice of fertilizer often affects the growth pattern of plants and the overall look of the garden. Horse manure, a common natural resource, polarizes gardeners. Some favor it as a garden treasure, while others are skeptical, fearing that improper use could lead to trouble. So, actually, is horse manure good for your garden? Let us explore this question in depth.
A first look at the value of horse manure in gardening
Walking into a garden, it is not difficult to find that experienced gardeners cannot hide their inner joy at the sight of piles of rotting horse manure. This emphasis on horse manure is not unreasonable, it hides an important value for gardening and helps to answer the question ‘Is horse manure good for gardening?’ The question. Let’s dig a little deeper.
Simply put, horse manure is horse manure. In stables, horse manure is usually mixed with a variety of bedding materials that include straw, wood chips, and sawdust. Their presence not only changes the physical properties of the horse manure, but also affects its nutrient content.
Chemically, horse manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements essential for plant growth. Nitrogen is a key component in the synthesis of proteins and chlorophyll, and is essential for plant leaves and photosynthesis; phosphorus plays an integral role in root development, bud differentiation and fruit ripening; and potassium enhances the resilience of plants, helping them to resist drought, cold and pests. Horse manure also contains calcium, magnesium, zinc and other trace elements, which, although in low demand during plant growth, are necessary to maintain normal physiological functions.
In horticultural practice, horse manure plays multiple roles. It is a high-quality organic fertiliser that provides a constant supply of nutrients to plants; it is also an efficient soil conditioner that improves the structure and texture of the soil. It also promotes the activity of micro-organisms and earthworms in the soil, further optimising the soil’s ecological environment. The combination of these functions means that horse manure for gardening has a status that cannot be ignored.
Specific benefits of horse manure for the garden
Providing rich nutrients
1. Nitrogen for growth: Horse manure is rich in nitrogen, which is the ‘power engine’ for plant growth. Take leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach for example, they have a high demand for nitrogen in their growth cycle. The nitrogen in horse manure is quickly absorbed by the plant and promotes protein and chlorophyll synthesis. As a result, plants thrive with greener, thicker leaves and more efficient photosynthesis. Adequate nitrogen also enhances the plant’s disease resistance and reduces the occurrence of pests.
2. Phosphorus boosts roots and buds: Phosphorus is vital to the development of plant roots and bud differentiation. When horse manure is applied to the soil, the phosphorus contained therein will gradually be released and absorbed by the plant roots. In the case of flowering plants such as roses and peonies, phosphorus promotes the formation and development of flower buds, resulting in larger, more colourful flowers that last longer. For fruit trees, phosphorus helps fruit enlargement and sugar accumulation, improving fruit quality.
3. Potassium enhances resilience: Potassium, on the other hand, is the umbrella of plants and enhances their resilience. In arid environments, potassium helps to regulate the osmotic pressure in plant cells and reduce water loss. In the cold season, potassium enhances plant frost resistance and helps plants to resist pests and diseases.
Improvement of soil structure
1. Formation of humus to optimise pore space: The organic matter in horse manure decomposes over time to form humus. Humus binds soil particles into larger clumps, improving soil porosity and aeration. This allows plant roots to spread more freely, absorb more oxygen and nutrients, and grow stronger. Improved soil structure also helps plants to absorb more water and nutrients, providing important support for their growth.
2. Retaining water and nutrients: Humus has a high capacity to absorb water and nutrients, acting like a sponge to reduce water evaporation and nutrient loss. During droughts, humus slowly releases stored water to meet the needs of plants. After fertiliser application, humus improves fertiliser efficiency by absorbing and retaining nutrients, preventing nutrient loss. In addition, the organic matter in horse manure can improve the acid-base balance of the soil, creating a more favourable environment for plant growth.
Promoting soil biological activities
1. Attracting earthworms to loosen the soil: earthworms, often called ‘soil engineers’, are attracted to horse manure. As earthworms travel, feed and excrete in the soil, their activities further loosen the soil and improve its aeration and permeability. Earthworm excreta is rich in nutrients and is a high quality organic fertiliser, which is beneficial to plant growth.
2. Nourishing soil microorganisms: Horse manure also provides food for soil microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) and promotes plant health. These microorganisms break down organic matter into nutrients that can be absorbed by plants, and also produce beneficial substances such as antibiotics and plant hormones that prevent the growth of harmful pathogens. Their activity also improves soil structure, allowing the soil to better retain water and nutrients.
Essentials of using horse manure in gardening
Ensuring maturity of horse manure
Fresh horse manure contains a large amount of undecomposed organic matter and micro-organisms which generate heat during fermentation. If the heat is not dissipated properly, it can damage the root system of the plant, resulting in stunting or even death of the plant. In addition, fresh horse manure may contain weed seeds, pathogens and parasite eggs, all of which can contaminate gardens and increase the risk of pests and diseases.
To determine if horse manure is rotting, look for a dark brown or black colour, a loose texture, the presence of hard lumps, and a faint earthy smell. The presence of white mycelium would indicate vigorous rotting.
Controlling the Amount of Use
Excessive use of horse manure can lead to an imbalance of nutrients and destroy the natural composition of the soil. This can lead to stunted growth, weak stems, reduced flowering and smaller fruits. Excessive use can also increase soil salinity, damaging the plant’s root system and affecting its growth. Therefore, fertiliser dosage must be carefully managed, especially when applying fertiliser to gardens with multiple plants.
Fertiliser application according to plant needs
Different plants have different fertiliser needs. For example, vegetables such as pumpkins and courgettes, and flowers such as roses and dahlias grow rapidly and require a lot of nutrients; they can tolerate more horse manure. On the other hand, drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and cacti require less fertiliser and may be over-fertilised if too much horse manure is used. Root vegetables such as carrots and turnips should also be given special attention. Fresh horse manure can affect root growth, so it is best to use well-rotted horse manure.
Suitability of horse manure for different plants
Fruit and vegetable plants
Fruit and vegetable plants such as pumpkins and pulses need a lot of nutrients and water during growth. Horse manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other essential nutrients, and is an ideal fertiliser for rapid growth and fruit development. For pumpkins, using horse manure as a base fertiliser can result in stronger vines, more lush foliage, and fuller, larger fruits, thus greatly increasing yields.
Flowering plants
Roses, dahlias and other flowering plants need fertile soil for optimum growth. Horse manure not only provides essential nutrients, but also improves soil structure and increases permeability and water retention. Roses watered with horse manure have bigger, brighter and longer blooming flowers.
Root vegetables
Root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips are sensitive to soil texture and fertility. Fresh horse manure produces excessive heat during the rotting process, which may lead to root deformation. To avoid this, it is best to use well-composted horse manure for root vegetables.
Drought-tolerant plants and wildflowers
Drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and cacti thrive in well-drained soil with low fertility. Using too much horse manure can make the soil too fertile and lead to root rot. Wildflowers that normally grow in low fertility soils may also be affected by too much horse manure. Therefore, horse manure must be used with caution when growing plants in the garden that have special environmental needs.
How to obtain and use horse manure
Ways of obtaining it
1. Local horse farms: Locally, horse manure is usually available from horse farms or breeders who need to dispose of it. This method of obtaining horse manure is usually free of charge, but may require transport and some compost preparation. The freshness of horse manure can be both a benefit and a challenge, as it may need to be broken down further before use.
2. Garden centres or online: Bagged horse manure can also be purchased from garden centres or online platforms. Bagged horse manure is usually pre-treated and screened to ensure a more consistent and reliable quality. However, bagged manure tends to be more expensive and, due to its heavier weight, more costly to transport. When purchasing bagged manure, one should ensure to check the product description to confirm its source, degree of decomposition and nutrient content.
Usage
1. Use in planting beds and pots: When using horse manure in planting beds, it should be mixed with the soil in a certain proportion before planting. For newly prepared planting beds, horse manure can be applied as a base fertiliser and then covered with a layer of soil. This will provide lasting nutrient support for plant growth. When using manure in garden pots, spread a layer of manure at the bottom of the pot (about one-quarter of the depth of the pot) and then fill in the rest with soil.
2. Timing of application: autumn is the best time to apply horse manure as a base fertiliser. Spread the horse manure evenly over the garden, then deeply plough or till the soil to ensure adequate mixing. After a winter of natural decomposition, the plants will be able to fully absorb the nutrients by spring. During the growing season, adjust the amount of horse manure applied according to the plants’ needs.
Use horse manure wisely for an ideal garden
Horse manure has many benefits for your garden. It provides a rich source of nutrients for plants, improves soil structure and promotes a healthy soil ecosystem, all of which help plants thrive. However, it is important to ensure that horse manure is well rotted so that it does not damage your plants, and it must be applied in the right amounts for the needs of different plants.
By using horse manure wisely, you can reduce your reliance on chemical fertilisers and promote an ecological balance in your garden, resulting in a thriving, sustainable garden environment. So, is horse manure good for gardening? When used properly, horse manure is one of the best natural fertilisers for creating an ideal, beautiful garden.
