Chicken manure pellets

[Pseud]

We’ve bought some chicken manure pellets as a soil improver for a cleared border (literally no other options in stock), but the instructions say to wait 7-10 days after use before planting. Do you know if this is just because that’s how long it will take for it to be of benefit, or might it damage the plants if we put them in sooner? I’ve got some compost to add to planting holes.

They might be a bit rough on the new roots. I’ve never used them as soil improvers but have sprinkled them around plants as slow release fertiliser. For soil improvers you need something like well rotted horse manure, compost or leaf mould, something that will add body and nutrients to the soil and encourage worms and other invertebrates.

I agree with Viques completely, chicken manure pellets aren't really for soil improving. The compost you've got will be more use for that. Can you source some well-rotted manure as well, as that will be ideal and the better the soil you plant into, the better the results in the long run.

I wouldn't put the pellets in the soil before planting, dry fertiliser can "scorch" roots. Sprinkle them on the top of the soil once the bed is planted up and water well.

Thank you! I haven’t used it yet, I was a bit hesitant. Cant find normal manure for love nor money, so will stick to compost for now.

Have you got a riding stables near you? Our local one is only too happy for people to take away as much as they want from their poo mountain. I have a collection of large bag for life bags which I keep in my shed for the purpose, easier to fill and lift into the back of the car than sacks. You will need to let it rot down before you use it but it is cracking stuff.

Usually you can buy sacks of farmyard manure in garden centres, in similar sizes (60l) as compost. If you can find some of that it would help, although well-rotted horse manure from local stables is better imo. (The only thing to look out for in the latter is bits of weed from older areas of the muckheap, you don't want to introduce a pest species that you don't already have.)

If you can't get any of the above at the moment, your plan of using the compost in the planting pockets is a good short term alternative. Ideally though you do want to improve the soil throughout eventually.

It's obviously not the season now, but in autumn collect as many fallen leaves as you can for making leaf mould, the stuff is gold for adding proper body to your soil.