Should I Use Manure for Fruit Trees

If you ask a child what a plant needs to grow, common answers are going to be water, sun, soil, and air.  Any beginning gardener would agree with the child.  The one thing that is commonly forgotten about or least understood is feeding plants.  There are so many different fertilizers for fruit trees, but one of the best organic based fertilizers comes from using manure.

Should I Use Manure for Fruit Trees? Definitely!  Manure has so many beneficial nutrients that can feed the soil life, slowly provide nutrients to the tree, and create a healthier soil over time.  With that being said, it’s important to know how to work with different types of manures, when to apply, and how to utilize it. 

Can I use Fresh Manure

Only certain types of manures can be applied without being aged.  Manure is classified as either cold or hot.  Hot manure needs to be aged 6 months or more before being applied to plants or fruit trees.  When hot manure’s are utilized too soon, they can burn the plants. Hot manures decompose rapidly providing too much nutrients for the plant.  Common types of hot manures would be cow, horse, chicken, sheep, or goat.

 Cold manures can be applied directly to the plant, as they break down much more slowly over time.  Cold manure tends to be mixed with other things like hay or straw.  It’s still a good idea to age cold manure.  Rabbits, Illama, and Alpaca are animals that produce cold manure.  Manure can be aged through composting methods. 

What is the Best Manure for Fruit Trees

I’ve used several different types of manure, but I’ve seen the most results with rabbit manure.  It’s all a matter of preference, as many will debate which manure is the best.  I have a couple of indoor pet rabbits that provide me with an endless supply of manure.  I like rabbit manure because I don’t have to worry about aging it.  I use a large cat litter box for the rabbits that consists of hay that they eat, pine pellet litter, and rabbit poop.  Basically, I just dump the litter box in a compost pile in the backyard or apply it directly where I need it.

 In our alkaline soil, utilizing rabbit manure with the pine pellets can add some slight acidity. With other types of manures, I’ve had issues with weeds or grasses reseeding in my garden boxes, but don’t see that as much with rabbit manure.  Animals, like cows, that utilize salt blocks, can have an increase in salts in the manure.  Higher salt levels can be detrimental to fruit trees in alkaline soils if the salts build up over time.  Rabbit manure tends to have higher amounts of nutrients, especially Nitrogen.  Here is a NPK breakdown of various animal manures:

When is the Best Time to Fertilize my Fruit Trees

In a hot, dry climate like the Arizona desert, the best times to fertilize fruit trees revolve around some common U.S. holiday’s. 

1. Valentine’s Day or February 14
2. Memorial Day or Last Monday in May
3. Labor Day or First Monday in September

How to Apply Manure

After manure has aged or composted, it can be spread around the base of the fruit tree. Work the manure into the top level of the soil. Keep the compost off of the trunk when dispersing it around the tree.  It’s a good idea to place around a ½ inch to an inch depending on the type of manure.  Rabbit manure has more Nitrogen so less needs to be applied.

Composting Manure

A simple way to compost manure is create a compost pile in an area in the yard.  A good recipe for creating a great compost is utilizing about 50% manure, then adding things like kitchen waste, twigs, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, or any other organic matter.  Keep the pile consistently moist by watering it every few days and periodically using a shovel to turn the pile.  Over time, the pile will break down into a nutrient rich black/brown pile of compost. 

In summary, manure is a great organic method for feeding fruit trees that has been utilized by farmers for centuries.  No matter what type of manure you utilize, it all has some form of beneficial nutrients that when applied properly will help your fruit trees thrive.