Q: What’s the best manure to spread in the fall?
This is the perfect time to enrich vegetable gardens and flower beds with manure, giving nutrients time to integrate over winter.
Gardening advice often contradicts itself—one source praises elemental compositions, another recommends horse manure for clay or sandy soils. It’s confusing. As a seasoned gardener, here’s my straightforward recommendation based on years of hands-on experience.
Opt for the cheapest option that’s readily available near you—and prioritize the most fully composted manure possible. Aim for 6 months to a year old for optimal results. If it’s fresher, blend it with garden waste like leaves or clippings, compost the mix, and use it later for superior fertilizer.
Avoid fresh manure; unknown pesticides from the animal’s feed (e.g., herbicides or growth retardants in straw) can harm your soil. If you must use fresh in fall, apply 100-300 kg per 100 m²—no need to bury it; let nature work its magic.
Cow portrait (original by Claude Enet—many thanks!).
