Pelleted chicken manure

plant pauper

Hi all,

In the absence of "proper" manure I decided to go the pelleted route and bought some this morning mainly as a soil conditioner. Now having done some reading (after the fact) it seems it's best for non flowering plants.

Would it be a mistake to hoe it in around my herbaceous border or can I still use it and supplement with a phospherous rich feed in Spring and further towards flowering time?

Lyn

When I dug my long border that had a line of conifers in it, I used chicken pellets and covered them with my own compost, that was all I used in the first Spring and my flower borer was fantastic, this year I will use the pellets again and the compost, and will do that in the very near future, I have made a start, then in the Spring I will do as you said and use something for flowers.

plant pauper

My own compost isn't ready nor will it be for ages but I'll make a start with my chicken poop. With everything going to sleep for Winter it can just sit there and do it's thing for a while.

Thanks Lyn.

Obelixx

I use this every year but in autumn it only goes in planting holes for new shrubs and perennials.  I then wait till spring and scatter generally around all my borders and also on pots to revitalise the compost.   

Not much point using anything other than bonemeal for roots in autumn and a good mulch to improve soil structure as other goodies won't be taken up whilst the plant is dormant above ground and may well be leached away by heavy rains or melting snow depending on where you are.

plant pauper

Good point obelixx. mmmmm.......