Yes, you can spread manure on your lawn! When done correctly, fertilizing lawn with manure is an excellent way to improve soil health and provide essential nutrients for lush, green grass. Applying compost to grass, which is essentially aged and broken-down manure, offers a wealth of advantages for your lawn’s vitality.
Image Source: landzie.com
The Rich Rewards of Manure for Lawns
Manure is a powerhouse of organic matter, acting as a natural soil amendment with numerous benefits. It’s a cornerstone of organic lawn care. Let’s delve into why incorporating manure into your lawn maintenance routine is a smart move:
- Improved Soil Structure: Manure adds organic material, which helps bind soil particles together. This creates a better balance of air and water in the soil, making it easier for grass roots to grow and access vital resources. Compacted soil, a common enemy of healthy lawns, is significantly improved by regular manure application.
- Nutrient Supply: Manure is packed with essential plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, often referred to as N-P-K. These are the building blocks for strong grass growth, vibrant green color, and robust root systems. Unlike synthetic fertilizers that can provide a quick green-up but leach away, the nutrients in manure are released slowly, offering sustained feeding.
- Enhanced Microbial Activity: Healthy soil is alive! Manure introduces beneficial bacteria, fungi, and earthworms to your soil. These microorganisms break down organic matter, making nutrients more available to your grass and improving soil fertility over time.
- Increased Water Retention: The organic content in manure acts like a sponge, helping your soil retain moisture. This is particularly beneficial during dry spells, reducing the need for frequent watering and making your lawn more drought-tolerant.
- pH Balancing: Depending on the type, manure can help balance soil pH. Most grass thrives in a slightly acidic to neutral pH range, and manure can contribute to achieving this ideal environment.
Types of Manure for Lawns: Picking the Best for Your Grass
Not all manure is created equal when it comes to fertilizing lawn with manure. Some types are richer in nutrients, while others need more careful preparation. Understanding the differences helps you choose wisely.
Premium Picks:
- Cow Manure: This is a popular choice for good reason. It’s relatively low in nitrogen and has a balanced nutrient profile, making it less likely to “burn” your grass. It also has a good amount of organic matter. It typically requires aging to break down and reduce its pungent odor.
- Horse Manure: Often containing more straw or hay than cow manure, horse manure is rich in organic matter but can be lower in nitrogen. It’s generally considered safe for lawns, but like cow manure, aging is recommended. Be mindful if your horse was fed weed seeds; proper composting will kill them.
- Chicken Manure: This is a nitrogen-rich powerhouse. While excellent for fertility, chicken manure is too potent to apply directly to a lawn. It must be well-composted to avoid burning the grass and to break down its high salt content.
- Sheep and Goat Manure: These are considered “cold” manures, meaning they are less likely to burn plants. They are excellent all-around fertilizers and great for soil amendment with manure.
What to Avoid or Use with Extreme Caution:
- Fresh Manure: Never use fresh manure from any animal on your lawn. It’s too strong, can contain pathogens, and may contain weed seeds that haven’t been killed by the digestive process. It can also scorch your grass. Always opt for aged or composted manure.
- Dog and Cat Feces: These should never be used on your lawn. They can contain harmful pathogens and parasites that pose a risk to humans and pets.
How to Prepare Manure for Lawn Application: The Key to Success
The most crucial step before applying compost to grass is proper preparation. This ensures your manure is safe, effective, and beneficial.
Composting is King:
Composting is the ideal method for preparing manure for lawn use. It breaks down the manure, kills weed seeds and pathogens, and creates a nutrient-rich, stable soil amendment.
How to Compost Manure:
- Gather Your Materials: You’ll need a mix of “greens” (nitrogen-rich, like manure) and “browns” (carbon-rich, like dried leaves, straw, or shredded paper). A good ratio is roughly 1 part green to 2-3 parts brown.
- Build Your Pile: Start with a layer of brown material, then add manure, followed by another layer of brown. Continue layering, aiming for a pile at least 3x3x3 feet for effective heat generation.
- Moisture is Key: The compost pile should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Water it if it seems dry.
- Turn Regularly: Aeration is vital for decomposition. Turn your compost pile every 1-2 weeks using a pitchfork or compost turner. This also helps generate heat.
- Patience: Composting can take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the materials, turning frequency, and weather. The compost is ready when it’s dark, crumbly, and smells earthy, with no recognizable manure odor.
Aging Manure:
If composting isn’t feasible, aging manure is the next best option.
How to Age Manure:
- Pile it Up: Spread the manure in a pile outdoors, away from water sources.
- Cover it (Optional but Recommended): A tarp can help manage moisture and odors.
- Let it Sit: Allow the manure to sit for at least 6-12 months. Turning the pile occasionally speeds up decomposition. The goal is to let it break down significantly, reducing its potency and odor.
When to Spread Manure: The Best Time for Application
Timing is everything for lawn top dressing with manure. Applying it at the right time ensures your grass can best utilize the nutrients and benefit from the soil amendment with manure.
- Late Fall: This is often considered the best time to spread manure. As the grass growth slows down for winter, the manure has time to break down further and integrate into the soil. The spring rains will then wash nutrients down to the roots, preparing your lawn for a strong start in the growing season.
- Early Spring: While fall is ideal, early spring is also a good time. Apply the aged or composted manure before the peak growing season begins. This provides nutrients as the grass starts to actively grow. Avoid applying it when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
- Avoid Peak Summer Heat: Applying manure during the hottest, driest part of summer can stress your lawn. The manure can dry out, and the act of spreading can disturb the soil surface, leading to potential damage if not rehydrated quickly.
- Avoid Late Spring/Early Summer: If you’re overseeding or the grass is actively growing and needs a boost, lighter applications of compost might be acceptable. However, heavy applications of raw or poorly composted manure can smother new seedlings or damage actively growing grass.
Manure Application Rates: Finding the Right Balance
This is where many people falter. Too much manure can be detrimental, while too little won’t provide the desired benefits. Manure application rates need careful consideration.
General Guidelines for Well-Composted Manure:
- Light Top Dressing: A layer of 1/4 to 1/2 inch is usually sufficient. This is ideal for regular maintenance and provides a gentle nutrient boost.
- Heavier Application (for soil improvement): In situations where soil is heavily compacted or nutrient-poor, you might apply up to 1 inch. However, this should be done sparingly and only with thoroughly composted material.
Calculating Application:
To spread 1/2 inch of compost over 1,000 square feet:
- You’ll need approximately 0.3 cubic yards of compost. (1/2 inch = 0.0417 feet. 1000 sq ft * 0.0417 ft = 41.7 cubic feet. 41.7 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet per cubic yard ≈ 1.5 cubic yards. Correction: My initial thought process was incorrect. Let’s re-calculate more precisely.)
Let’s break down the calculation for a 1/2 inch layer over 1000 sq ft:
- Convert inches to feet: 0.5 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.04167 feet
- Calculate volume in cubic feet: 1000 sq ft * 0.04167 ft = 41.67 cubic feet
- Convert cubic feet to cubic yards: 41.67 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet/cubic yard = 1.54 cubic yards.
So, for a 1/2 inch layer over 1,000 sq ft, you’d need approximately 1.5 cubic yards of compost.
Visual Aid for Application:
| Desired Layer (inches) | Volume Needed Per 1,000 sq ft (approx. cubic yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 0.75 | Light feeding, excellent for regular top dressing. |
| 1/2 | 1.5 | Good for improved fertility and soil structure. |
| 1 | 3.0 | For significant soil improvement; use only with very well-composted material. |
Important Considerations for Rates:
- Type of Manure: Chicken manure, being high in nitrogen, requires lower application rates than cow or horse manure.
- Compost Quality: The richer and more balanced the compost, the less you might need.
- Soil Test: For precise nutrient needs, get a soil test. It will tell you exactly what your lawn is lacking.
How to Spread Manure On Lawn: Practical Methods
Once your manure is prepared and you know your rates, it’s time to get it on the lawn. There are several effective methods for applying compost to grass.
Method 1: The Top Dressing Approach (Recommended for Compost)
This is the most common and effective method for lawn top dressing with manure, especially when using well-composted material.
What you’ll need:
- Well-composted manure
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Pitchfork or rake
- Garden hose or sprinkler
Steps:
- Load the Wheelbarrow: Fill your wheelbarrow with a manageable amount of compost. Don’t overload it, as this will make spreading difficult.
- Distribute in Piles: Empty small piles of compost evenly across your lawn. Aim for piles spaced a few feet apart. This makes it easier to spread.
- Spread with a Rake or Pitchfork: Use a stiff rake or a pitchfork to spread the compost. Work it into the existing grass, aiming for an even layer. The goal is to see soil and grass through the compost, not to smother the grass.
- Brush In (Optional): If you have a stiff broom or leaf rake, you can gently brush the compost to further help it settle into the turf.
- Water Thoroughly: After spreading, water the lawn well. This helps the compost settle, provides moisture to the grass, and washes any remaining nutrients into the soil.
Method 2: Using a Spreader (Best for Finer Compost)
If your compost is very fine and free of large clumps or debris, you can use a broadcast or drop spreader.
What you’ll need:
- Finely screened, composted manure
- Broadcast or drop spreader
- Shovel and wheelbarrow for loading spreader
Steps:
- Load the Spreader: Carefully fill the spreader with compost. Ensure it’s not too wet, as this can clog the mechanism.
- Calibrate the Spreader: Set the spreader to a light setting, typically a lower number than you would use for granular fertilizer. Start with the lowest setting and test it on a small area or a tarp to gauge the output.
- Walk the Lawn: Push the spreader across your lawn in a consistent pattern, overlapping passes slightly to ensure even coverage.
- Water Thoroughly: As with hand spreading, water the lawn well after application.
Method 3: Incorporating into New Lawns or Garden Beds
While this guide focuses on established lawns, manure is also fantastic for new lawns.
Steps:
- Till it In: Before laying sod or seeding, spread a layer of composted manure over the area.
- Till into the Soil: Use a tiller to mix the manure into the top 4-6 inches of soil. This is a form of soil amendment with manure that dramatically improves the soil’s foundation for a new lawn.
Maintaining Your Manure-Enriched Lawn
After you’ve successfully spread manure, there are a few things to keep in mind for continued lawn health:
- Regular Watering: Ensure your lawn stays adequately hydrated, especially after applying manure.
- Mowing: Mow at the appropriate height for your grass type. Avoid cutting too short, as this can stress the grass.
- Weeding and Pest Control: Continue with any necessary weed or pest management practices. Healthy soil from manure application often reduces reliance on chemical treatments.
- Observe Your Lawn: Pay attention to how your grass responds. If you see signs of over-fertilization (e.g., excessive thatch, burned tips), reduce the amount of manure in future applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I spread fresh manure on my lawn?
A1: No, never spread fresh manure on your lawn. It’s too potent, can burn the grass, and may contain weed seeds and harmful pathogens. Always use aged or well-composted manure.
Q2: How often should I spread manure on my lawn?
A2: For most lawns, a light application of composted manure once a year in the fall or early spring is sufficient. Over-application can lead to nutrient imbalances or excessive thatch buildup.
Q3: Will spreading manure make my lawn smell bad?
A3: Properly composted or aged manure should have an earthy smell, not a strong, offensive odor. If you notice a pungent smell, the manure is likely too fresh or hasn’t composted sufficiently.
Q4: Can I spread manure if I have pets?
A4: Yes, but it’s crucial to use only well-composted manure. Fresh manure can contain pathogens that are harmful to pets. After application, water the lawn thoroughly, and keep pets off the lawn for a day or two if possible to allow the compost to settle and the initial odor to dissipate.
Q5: What if I don’t have access to manure?
A5: If manure isn’t available, other organic composts like mushroom compost, leaf mold, or commercially produced organic lawn fertilizers can provide similar benefits for your lawn.
Q6: How do I know if my manure is fully composted?
A6: Fully composted manure will be dark brown, crumbly, and uniform in texture. It should not contain recognizable pieces of manure or bedding material, and it should have a pleasant, earthy smell. If it still smells strongly of ammonia or fresh manure, it needs more time to compost.
Q7: Can spreading manure help with moss in my lawn?
A7: While manure improves soil health, which can indirectly help grass outcompete moss, it’s not a direct moss killer. Moss often thrives in shady, damp, or compacted areas. Addressing these underlying conditions alongside organic lawn care practices like manure application is the most effective approach.
By following these guidelines for fertilizing lawn with manure, you can transform your lawn into a healthier, more vibrant, and resilient space, all through the power of natural soil amendment with manure. Enjoy your beautiful, green carpet!