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Science-based gardening information for Colorado communities from CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Green Industries of Colorado.

1618 – Manure and Soil Improvement   arrow

Manure can be used as an organic material to improving soils when used as a mulch or soil amendment.

Apply fresh manure only in the fall so it has the winter to decompose. Applied in spring or summer could potentially transmit pathogens such as E-coli.

Manures can also be high in salt which is harmful when added to the soil. Salts build up in the root zones of plants in heavy clay soils with poor drainage causing seed-germination failure, stunted plants, or leaf burn.

manure

When adding manure or compost made with manure, add no more than one inch per year and cultivate it into the soil six to eight inches deep. By improving drainage with organic matter, salts will be leached through the soil.

Other options for improving soil are to add compost, leaves, chopped straw and other low-salt organic materials instead of manure.

For more information, see the following Colorado State University Extension fact sheet(s).

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