Manure is generally considered one of the best amendments you can add to your garden. At least it used to be. Here’s how manure in the garden may actually destroy your soil and plants for a long time.
The following article was written by David the Good of The Survival Gardener.
David and I first connected after he wrote an honest and thorough review of my book, ‘The Suburban Micro-Farm’, for Mother Earth News. David is an expert at home-scale food production and I was thrilled that he enjoyed it.
The truth is, herbicide-laced manure is a widespread problem that can completely destroy a garden, and David was one of the first to sound the alarm.
I’m grateful he’s sharing this information with us so that we may prevent this devastating and costly misfortune from occurring in our own gardens. — Amy
The Ultimate Guide to Scoring Free Horse Manure for Your Garden
As an avid gardener, you already know that horse manure makes an excellent organic fertilizer. It provides a slow-release source of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients to help your plants thrive. The organic matter also improves soil texture and enhances microbial activity.
But have you priced horse manure at your local garden center recently? Those tiny bags can cost a small fortune. And it takes a lot of manure to nourish a decent-sized vegetable garden or flower bed.
That’s why finding a free local source of horse manure should be on every gardener’s to-do list. With some persistence and relationship-building, you can locate an ongoing supply of quality manure without spending a dime.
Here are some of the best places to look:
Local Horse Stables and Riding Facilities
Stables that board horses accumulate tons of manure. Most are more than happy to let you haul it away for free so they don’t have to pay dump fees. Introduce yourself to stable owners and managers and offer your manure removal services. Exchange contact information so they can call you when a pile needs clearing.
Pro Tip: Time your visits for mucking out days when piles are freshest. Bring a pitchfork and wheelbarrow to do some of the work yourself. Offering to lend a hand can earn you extra free manure.
Backyard Horse Owners
Horse owners need to regularly muck out stalls and paddocks. They often have more manure than they know what to do with and will give it away to a good home. Place an ad on Craiglist or local bulletin boards offering to remove unwanted manure for free. You can also print flyers to put up at local feed stores and veterinary offices.
Pro Tip: When responding to ads, arrive prepared with your truck and tools to haul away the manure right then. You want to get it before anyone else sees the ad.
Horse Breeders and Boarding Facilities
Operations focused on horse breeding or training horses have even more manure since they house dozens of animals. Drive around rural areas looking for large barns and paddocks. Introduce yourself and ask if they generate manure they want removed. Being willing to clean stalls yourself can help convince them.
Pro Tip: Time your visits for early in the week. That’s often when piles are biggest after weekend events and lessons. Offer to sign a regular manure removal agreement.
Sale Barns and Auction Houses
Manure accumulates rapidly wherever horses gather. Check in with livestock auction houses and see if you can claim the manure piles. Come prepared with tools, trucks, and strong backs to shovel and haul it away promptly. Don’t just take manure; remove the contaminated bedding as well.
Pro Tip: Arrive early before auctions start to scout out the best manure deposits. You want first dibs before others see those piles.
What To Look For:
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Poop only is better than poop mixed with lots of soiled bedding or hay.
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Fresher manure has more nitrogen. Aged manure provides more stable nutrients. Blend both for optimal results.
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Avoid manure from horses treated recently with dewormers or medications as residues may persist.
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Sample suspect piles by growing test plants at home before using on garden crops.
Pro Tricks for Transporting Manure:
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Use a pickup truck or trailer to efficiently haul large volumes.
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For smaller amounts, contain manure in 5-gallon buckets or garbage cans.
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Cover loads with a tarp to contain dust and prevent spills en route.
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Wear old clothes and gloves when handling. Wash up after.
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Stockpile extra manure in a fenced, sheltered area to age and mellow.
With some hustle and relationship-building, you can locate an endless supply of free horse manure. Your garden will reap the benefits of this black gold. Happy manure hunting!
This Manure Will Destroy Your Garden!
Manure is rich in nitrogen, organic matter and a variety of minerals, adding nutrition and tilth to the soil and ensuring rich harvests of green and happy vegetables. It’s generally considered to be one of the best amendments you can add to your garden.
At least it used to be.
Now adding manure to your garden is playing Russian roulette with your plants. There’s a very good chance that it will completely destroy your beds and cause your plants to grow into twisted parodies of their proper growth pattern before dying ugly and unproductive deaths.
That Herbicide is Poison
From my reading, it wasn’t too much nitrogen. The symptoms were too strange. And it wasn’t a virus.
The only thing in common between all these sick plants was one big load of manure.
I called the local master gardeners and shared the symptoms and they had nothing helpful to suggest, so I started searching on my own, looking up phrases like “twisting leaves manure,” until I came across an article about a community garden disaster on the left coast.
They had purchased a load of manure compost, then lost many of their plants because of a recently released herbicide designed for hay growers and cattle farmers.
I had met my nemesis.
I called the farmer who had sold me the manure and asked him if he’d sprayed anything on his hay fields. He told me he had tried a new product recommended by the University of Florida for the elimination of spiny pigweed, an obnoxious recurring weed in his pastures. “It worked really well,” he told me.
I shared that all my plants were dying and asked if he could find out what he’d sprayed. I was pretty sure I knew already, but when he sent me a picture of the label, I knew for sure.
It was Grazon, an aminopyralid-based toxin from Dow AgroSciences.
Aminopyralid isn’t the only persistent herbicide, however. Clopyralid, picloram, aminoclopyrachlor, and hexazinone are other persistent herbicides that often contaminate manures, straw, hay, compost, and gardens. These herbicides are sold under many brand names, so it’s important to look at the label of a product to determine if it includes one of these chemicals.
100035 Shredded Horse Manure XL
FAQ
When should you not use horse manure?
Food safety guidelines are generally about using ‘fresh’ (not well composted) manure, and IIRC are generally minimum recommended in the range of 4 to 6 months before harvesting. Horse manure that’s been outside for two years or more should be perfectly fine.
Where to take horse manure?
- Landfills. Most landfills will accept manure if you are able to haul it there. …
- Local Topsoil or Compost Facilities. Research local topsoil or compost facilities. …
- Area Nurseries, Tree Farms, Crop Farmers, and Other Agricultural Crop Producers. …
- Organic Farmers.
How much is horse manure per ton?
In using these information sources, horse manure would be somewhere in the $6 to $7 per ton price range. Most horse manure is lower in nutrients than other types of livestock mainly due to their nutrient intake. They are being fed to maintain their body weight, not add pounds of meat or produce milk.
Can you put horse manure directly in the garden?
Planting directly into horse manure is generally not recommended for several reasons: Nutrient Imbalance: Fresh horse manure is rich in nitrogen, which can burn plants if used directly. It often has a high ammonia content that can be harmful to young plants.
How do I get free horse manure?
Search online classifieds sites like Craigslist using keywords like “free horse manure” or “horse manure wanted.” Check community and gardening Facebook Groups for those giving away or seeking manure. Look under “manure hauling” in online business directories. Reach out to see if they have excess to donate.
Where can I find free horse manure?
If you are a gardener, you can collect free horse manure from stables at horse racing tracks. Many racetracks across the country offer heaps of horse poop for free to local gardeners.
Where can I get free manure?
Many are happy to let you haul it away for free. Riding schools – Check with stables at nearby riding academies, camps, and equestrian event facilities. Offering to clean stalls can score you free manure. Horse breeders – Farms focused on horse breeding often have an abundance of manure they want to get rid of.
Is it beneficial to get manure from a horse farm?
Getting manure from a horse farm can be beneficial as it is often free. This can save you a significant amount of money on your garden and help you get started with organic farming. Some farms even offer free manure to those starting their own organic farms or gardens.
Is horse manure a good organic fertilizer?
As an organic fertilizer, horse manure offers many benefits for gardens and farms. But sourcing quality manure for free or cheap can be a challenge. This guide shares tips for locating free horse manure near you. Why Get Free Manure?
Who can pick up horse manure?
This allows them to have faster growing plants, but significantly reduces their water bill. We welcome gardeners, composters, worm farmers, and everyone to pick up free horse manure in bulk. Call ahead to schedule a pick up day and time. Bring your own shovel and containers. Manure pick up is a self-loading process, so dress appropriately.