Composted manure can be a fantastic addition to your garden soil, but planting directly into it may not be the best idea. While composted manure is rich in organic matter and nutrients, it can also be quite potent and may have a high salt content, which could potentially harm your plants if used in its pure form.
Instead, I recommend incorporating the composted manure into your existing garden soil. This can be done by mixing it thoroughly into the top few inches of soil before planting. By doing so, you’ll be able to take advantage of its beneficial properties while diluting its potency.
If you have sandy soil, mixing composted manure with it can help improve its fertility and water-holding capacity. Sandy soil tends to drain quickly, and adding composted manure can help retain moisture and provide a steady supply of nutrients to your plants.
In addition to composted manure, you may also want to consider adding other additives to your soil mix, such as peat moss, vermiculite, or perlite. These can further improve the soil structure and enhance its ability to hold water and nutrients.
When using composted manure in container plantings, it’s important to mix it with other components to create a well-draining and balanced potting mix. Mixing it with equal parts of compost, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite can create a suitable growing medium for container plants.
Personal experience: In my own garden, I have used composted manure as an amendment for my sandy soil. I mixed it with equal parts of soil and composted manure, and the results were fantastic. My plants thrived, and the soil seemed to retain moisture much better than before. I also used a similar mixture for my container plants, and they grew beautifully.
Composted manure is indeed a valuable garden amendment, but it is best used when incorporated into garden soil or mixed with other additives for container plantings. By doing so, you can take advantage of its benefits while avoiding potential issues with potency and salt content. Experiment with different ratios and mixtures to find what works best for your specific gardening needs.