I use Black Kow composted cow manure to improve garden soil organically. Our shrubs and flowers are healthy and beautiful. Here is why it works for me.
First off, this article is not sponsored in any way by Black Kow. I’m sharing my experience using their cow manure compost because our garden soil has greatly improved. Since this works for me, I hope it can work for you — and your gardens!
FTC Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I explain more here.
Black Kow manure is a fantastic organic soil amendment that can transform your garden But timing is everything when it comes to getting the most out of this nutritious composted cow manure By applying Black Kow at the right time, you’ll boost your soil health, plant growth, and yields.
Why Use Black Kow Manure?
Black Kow manure provides a slow-release source of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This composted manure helps improve soil structure and water retention. It also encourages beneficial microbial activity in the soil.
Overall, amending your soil with Black Kow manure offers many benefits:
- Increases organic matter and nutrition for plants
- Improves moisture retention
- Promotes good drainage
- Boosts microbial life and activity
- Helps remedy compacted soils
- Enhances nutrient availability for plants
- Supports vigorous root growth
When to Apply Black Kow Manure
Timing is critical when adding Black Kow manure to your garden for the best results. Here are some key times to focus on:
Fall
Applying Black Kow manure in fall allows the nutrients to start breaking down over winter This gives the manure time to properly integrate into the soil Nutrients will be readily available for spring planting and growth.
Target fall application for:
- New garden beds
- Existing beds and around established plants
- Areas prepped for spring planting
Early Spring
Use Black Kow manure in early spring to boost nutrients just before planting. This organic matter will help ‘wake up’ the soil and supply nutrients needed for seedlings and new transplants.
Target spring application for:
- Beds and rows just before planting
- Individual planting holes for transplants
- Container gardens and potting mix
Throughout the Growing Season
You can side dress established plants with Black Kow manure through the growing season. This gives veggie and flower beds an extra nutrient boost. Just scratch it lightly into the soil around plants.
During the season, target application for:
- Veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
- Heavy feeding plants like corn and squash
- Flower beds for continual blooms
- Container gardens to maintain nutrition
Overwinter Cover
Spread a layer of Black Kow manure over vacant beds in fall. This protects and nourishes the soil over winter. Come spring, just mix in the leftover manure before planting.
Use as overwinter cover on:
- Empty beds without a cover crop
- Any bed needing a nutrient replenishment
How Much Black Kow to Use
Application rates will vary based on your soil needs. Here are some general guidelines for incorporating Black Kow manure:
- For new gardens, apply 3-6 inches and mix into the top 6 inches of soil
- To prepare planting beds, apply 1-3 inches and till into top 3-6 inches of soil
- For side dressing around established plants, apply a 0.5-1 inch layer and lightly work into top 1-2 inches of soil
When in doubt, start on the lower end of the rate to assess how your plants respond. It’s always better to under apply than over apply manure amendments.
Tips for Applying Black Kow Manure
Follow these tips to make the most of your Black Kow manure application:
- Always use well-composted manure to avoid burning plants with excess nitrogen
- Wear gloves and wash hands after working with manure
- For new gardens, apply in fall and till thoroughly into the soil
- For existing beds, spread around plants and scratch into just the topsoil
- Water gently after application to help nutrients start filtering down
- Reapply every 1-2 years to maintain nutrition levels
- Mix with compost or peat moss to improve texture if needed
- Store any unused dry manure in a sealed bin or bag
The Impact on Different Soil Types
Black Kow manure can improve all soil types, but benefits vary:
- Clay soils – Helps loosen heavy clay and improve drainage
- Sandy soils – Boosts water retention and nutrient holding capacity
- Loam soils – Adds nutrition and organic matter to enrich soil
- Compacted soils – Helps alleviate density for better root growth
The organic matter and balanced nutrition from Black Kow enhance the properties of all soil types. Adjust application rates based on your soil’s needs.
Black Kow Manure for Optimal Garden Health
By properly timing your Black Kow manure applications, you can promote lush plant growth, bigger blooms, and increased yields. Pay close attention to spring and fall fertilization needs. And don’t be afraid to side dress plants through the growing months for a periodic nutrient boost. With the right use of Black Kow manure, you’ll enjoy a thriving garden all season long.
Black Kow composted cow manure
I use Black Kow composted cow manure in my garden beds because it has already been broken down and mixed with compost. All you have to do is mix it into your soil.
There is a bit of shoveling and mixing involved, but overall this is an easy way to improve your garden soil and make your plants, trees, shrubs and flowers happy!
Bagged Black Kow manure is available at most major garden centers and home improvement stores. (I see it’s also sold on Amazon here — BUT — it is way overpriced compared to what you will pay at a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s.)
Purchasing bagged cow manure compost is going to cost more than if you bought fresh manure directly from a farmer — but — as I mentioned earlier, this bagged manure is already mixed with compost and broken down enough to be added into your garden immediately.
Rake up the old mulch
First we raked up all of the old mulch that the landscapers had used.
We worked in sections, and kept the old mulch in piles.
Helpful tip: Don’t throw away the old mulch. Rake it back into your garden soil instead, as it will decompose and help improve your soil as it breaks down.
Once you’ve mixed in all your ingredients — which are explained in the upcoming steps — you can mix the old mulch back into the newly improved garden soil, before you top off the garden beds with new mulch.
Black Kow soil amendment. Recommended or NOT?? Check Lowe’s and local nursery
FAQ
When to apply Black Kow?
A: The best time to apply manure is usually early spring and/or early fall. If you are in a southern climate you could go to late winter or late fall. Apply it early in the morning or in the evening.
What is the best time to apply manure?
Adding manure is most effective when it is done at the right time. You can add manure to your garden beds right before planting or at the end of the season when you have pulled everything out of the ground. Apply aged manure when there are no plants in the ground so you can use tools without fear of uprooting plants.
How long should cow manure sit before using?
Simply aging a manure pile for three months can kill about 60 percent of the weed seeds present, and bacterial counts start to drop within days after the manure leaves the animal. Then, when the aged manure is mixed into the soil, soil microorganisms clear out residual bacteria in about a month.
Can I just put manure on top of soil?
… than six months old) is too strong to put directly onto growing plants, but it can be spread or dug into soil that is being prepared for growing later onJun 20, 2023