How to Add Manure to a Flower Bed

Soil health contributes to successful gardening by providing a nutrient-rich foundation for growing plants. Well-composted herbivore manure feeds and conditions the soil in an existing flowerbed. New beds benefit from manure worked into the soil before planting. Manure is available packaged or directly from the source. Well-rotted manure doesn’t tie up nitrogen in the soil, and its benefits are immediately available to the soil and the plants.

Tape measure
Wheelbarrow
Shovel
Rake
Heavy-duty garden gloves
Safety goggles (optional)
Well-rotted herbivore manure

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of the planting area. Allow 100 pounds of manure for every 100 square feet of bed surface.
- 2
  Fill the wheelbarrow with an amount of manure that you can easily maneuver. Push the wheelbarrow to the flowerbed site.
- 3
  Shovel three shovels full of manure onto the soil surface between plants. Rake the small piles into a level surface 2 inches deep, retaining 3 inches of uncovered soil around the bases of growing plants.
- 4
  Repeat this procedure until the bed is covered.
- 5
  Shovel manure over the entire surface of an unplanted flowerbed. Spread the manure into a layer 3 inches deep, and then work the manure into the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches.
  (Ref 1)

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