Unlock the power of composted manures with our guide to safe, nutrient-rich lawn and garden care. Learn how to use cow, chicken, sheep, and other manures to boost soil health naturally with Rocky Point.
Fresh Products
When using manures in the garden, where it comes from plays a big role in how it needs to be handled and when it can be applied.
If you’re keeping backyard chooks, their manure can be fantastic fertiliser. But remember- fresh chook poo straight from the coop is what we call ‘hot’, meaning it is very high in nitrogen and when applied directly can burn plants
Composting manures.
Whether its chicken, cow, sheep or goat manure, fresh manure needs to be hot composted down for around 6 weeks before applying it to garden beds or spreading it around fruit trees. Composting down first reduces the risk of fertiliser burn and improves nutrient balance. Adding kitchen veggie and fruit scraps, grass clippings and leaf litter to the compost heap will help create a balanced manure-rich compost. For best results, follow hot composting guidelines – this method uses high temperatures to break down material faster and more effectively. Cold composting, where you just add the manure to a compost bin, will take far longer to break down, up to 6 months and may not destroy harmful pathogens.
Pathogen Safety
Composting doesn’t just improve the quality of the manure- it also protects your plants and family! Hot composting down any fresh manure that you may have access to is essential for killing off pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella. It is the heat and high temperatures of the composting process that neutralises these risks.
Ready-to-use products.
If you don’t have the time or setup to compost yourself, Rocky Point has you covered. Our bagged cow and chicken manure have been processed to eliminate pathogens and get the manure composted to a stage where it will add organic matter and fertilise your plants without burning them.
How to apply manure to your garden.
- Dig it through the soil to get the nutrients where plant roots can use them.
By digging it in, you are improving the levels of organic matter and nutrients throughout the soil profile.
- Surface application is also fine, but it will take longer for the nutrients to reach down to the feeder roots.
- Always be sure to not put manure too close to plant stems to avoid potential damage. Once applied, water in the well and cover with your favourite Rocky Point mulch to lock in moisture and protect that good soil!
The Manure Table:
Fresh Products
When using manures in the garden, where it comes from plays a big role in how it needs to be handled and when it can be applied.
If you’re keeping backyard chooks, their manure can be fantastic fertiliser. But remember- fresh chook poo straight from the coop is what we call ‘hot’, meaning it is very high in nitrogen and when applied directly can burn plants
Composting manures.
Whether its chicken, cow, sheep or goat manure, fresh manure needs to be hot composted down for around 6 weeks before applying it to garden beds or spreading it around fruit trees. Composting down first reduces the risk of fertiliser burn and improves nutrient balance. Adding kitchen veggie and fruit scraps, grass clippings and leaf litter to the compost heap will help create a balanced manure-rich compost. For best results, follow hot composting guidelines – this method uses high temperatures to break down material faster and more effectively. Cold composting, where you just add the manure to a compost bin, will take far longer to break down, up to 6 months and may not destroy harmful pathogens.
Pathogen Safety
Composting doesn’t just improve the quality of the manure- it also protects your plants and family! Hot composting down any fresh manure that you may have access to is essential for killing off pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella. It is the heat and high temperatures of the composting process that neutralises these risks.
Ready-to-use products.
If you don’t have the time or setup to compost yourself, Rocky Point has you covered. Our bagged cow and chicken manure have been processed to eliminate pathogens and get the manure composted to a stage where it will add organic matter and fertilise your plants without burning them.
How to apply manure to your garden.
- Dig it through the soil to get the nutrients where plant roots can use them.
By digging it in, you are improving the levels of organic matter and nutrients throughout the soil profile.
- Surface application is also fine, but it will take longer for the nutrients to reach down to the feeder roots.
- Always be sure to not put manure too close to plant stems to avoid potential damage. Once applied, water in the well and cover with your favourite Rocky Point mulch to lock in moisture and protect that good soil!
The addition of well-composted animal manures to garden beds will not only feed your plants valuable nutrients to your plants but also boosts the organic matter in the soil. This improves soil structure, increases moisture retention and supports a healthy population of beneficial microbes and fungi. For best results, apply larger quantities in early Autumn and Spring to prepare for peak growing seasons, then apply smaller side dressings as needed throughout the year.
