Using Manure in Your Garden: A Guide to Timing for Success
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Manure can be a fantastic addition to your garden, providing essential nutrients and improving soil structure. However, timing is crucial. Applying manure at the wrong time can lead to problems like plant burn or nutrient loss. This guide will help you understand the best times to spread manure, depending on its type and your gardening needs.
Autumn Application: The Ideal Time
Autumn is generally considered the best time to apply manure, particularly if you are using fresh manure. Aim to spread it between October and November, after you’ve harvested your summer crops and while the ground is still workable. This allows the manure several months to decompose over the winter. By spring, it will be less potent and safe for your new plants.
- Natural Decomposition: The rain and frost during autumn and winter help break down the manure naturally. This process allows the nutrients to integrate properly into the soil.
- Odour Control: Spreading manure in autumn avoids the unpleasant smell during the summer months when you want to enjoy your garden.
Fresh vs. Well-Rotted Manure: Timing Considerations
The timing of manure application depends heavily on whether you are using fresh or well-rotted manure.
- Fresh Manure: Fresh manure should always be applied in autumn. It is too rich in nitrogen and can scorch plants if used during the growing season. Allow at least three to six months between application and planting. The autumn-to-spring timeframe is ideal for this.
- Well-Rotted Manure: Well-rotted manure can be used more flexibly, even during the growing season. It should resemble soil and have a less pungent odour. Applying well-rotted manure in spring can give your plants a beneficial boost when they need it most.
Spring Application: Rules to Follow
If you choose to apply manure in spring, it must be well-rotted. Ideally, apply it two to four weeks before planting. March is often a suitable time in the UK, after the worst of the winter weather has passed but before you start sowing seeds.
- Preparation: Don’t plant immediately after applying manure. Allow time for it to settle into the soil. Work it into the top few inches and let the soil organisms do their work for a couple of weeks.
Crop-Specific Timing
Different crops have different nutrient requirements, which affects the optimal timing for manure application.
- Hungry Feeders: Crops like potatoes, courgettes, and sweetcorn benefit from soil that has been manured the previous autumn. These plants thrive in richer soil and will make use of the nutrients released over the winter.
- Root Vegetables: Root vegetables, such as carrots and parsnips, prefer soil that hasn’t been recently manured. Fresh organic matter can cause their roots to fork and become misshapen. If you plan to grow root vegetables, apply manure the autumn before the previous year (i.e., two autumns before planting).
Weather Considerations
Weather conditions play a crucial role in the effectiveness of manure application.
- Avoid Frozen or Waterlogged Ground: Never spread manure when the ground is frozen solid or waterlogged. In these conditions, the manure will either sit on the surface without breaking down or wash away with heavy rain.
- Check the Forecast: Avoid spreading manure just before heavy rain is forecast. The nutrients will be washed away, potentially polluting local waterways. Choose a settled period for application.
Mulching with Manure
Using well-rotted manure as a mulch around established plants is an excellent way to provide slow-release nutrients throughout the growing season. This can be done from late spring through summer.
- Application: Spread a layer of well-rotted manure a couple of inches thick around the plants, keeping it away from the stems to prevent rot.
- Suitable Plants: This method is particularly effective for hungry plants like roses, fruit bushes, and members of the squash family.
- Benefits: Mulching with manure feeds the plants, suppresses weeds, and encourages worms to work the manure into the soil.
Container Gardens and Raised Beds
Container gardens and raised beds offer more flexibility in timing.
- Containers: Mix well-rotted manure into your compost when filling containers in spring, using a ratio of about one part manure to three parts compost.
- Raised Beds: Add a layer of manure when topping up raised beds, typically in spring or autumn. The better drainage in raised beds reduces the risk of waterlogging during winter.
No-Dig Gardens
No-dig gardening simplifies the timing of manure application.
- Autumn Application: Spread manure on top of the beds in autumn (November or December) and leave it.
- Natural Incorporation: Do not work the manure into the soil. Let nature take its course over winter. By spring, worms will have pulled most of it into the soil, allowing you to plant directly through any remaining material.
Greenhouses and Polytunnels
Greenhouses and polytunnels have a different cropping schedule, requiring adjusted timing for manure application.
- Late Winter/Early Spring: Apply manure in late winter (January or February) between winter and summer crops.
- Midsummer: A second application can be made in midsummer when clearing spring crops and planting autumn crops.
- Well-Rotted Manure is Key: Ensure the manure is well-rotted due to the warmer conditions in enclosed spaces, which can amplify the odour of fresh manure.
Signs of Incorrect Timing
Recognising the signs of incorrect timing is crucial for correcting any issues.
- Excessive Leaf Growth: If plants produce abundant leaves but little fruit, you may have applied manure too close to planting. Excess nitrogen promotes green growth at the expense of flowering and fruiting, especially in tomatoes and beans.
- Poor Germination and Yellow Leaves: Yellow leaves on young plants or seeds that fail to germinate properly suggest the manure is too fresh.
- Burnt Plants: If plants appear scorched around the edges or fail to thrive after manure application, you likely used fresh manure too early. Allow more time for it to decompose or switch to well-composted manure.