Can You Use Horse Manure for New Sod?

The Sweet Smell of Compost

• Horse manure needs to be well composted for at least six months before it is ready to use as fertilizer. The roots of sod planted on partially decomposted manure can be burned and killed by nitrogen and ammonia present in manure. You also run the risk of weed seeds sprouting in your sod or the sod being exposed to pathogens, such as bacteria, that were not killed in the composting process. Properly composted horse manure smells like sweet or fresh soil, not like manure.

Avoid Contaminated Manure

• Try to find manure that comes from horses not fed on pastures that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Some chemicals, such as the herbicide amniopyralid, can be active in the manure for many years and will not break down in the composting process. These chemicals can destroy any plants that are fertilized with the contaminated manure.

Amending the Soil

• Before you lay the sod, prepare the soil. To know how much composted horse manure you need for your soil, you should complete a soil analysis. Soil analysis kits are widely available in places like garden centers and feed shops. Follow the manufacturer's directions to test your soil and supplement with horse manure as indicated by the results.

Preparing the Soil

• Aeration and moisture are keys to well-prepared soil when you are laying sod. One method that aerates and moisturizes the soil involves watering the soil thoroughly and let it drain for two days. Remix the soil and wet it again. After the soil has drained, mix it again, add horse manure and rototill the area one more time, according to the University of Arizona. Besides aerating and adding moisture, you are removing soil clumps that can hinder root growth.