How To Apply Chicken Manure To Lawn

By  Brenda Ingram-Christian

Things Needed

  • Gloves

  • Rake

  • Chicken manure

  • Measuring tape

  • Baseball chalk liner

  • Twine

  • Bucket

  • Cup

  • Water

  • Garden hose

Tip

Apply more manure the first year than following years, as chicken manure will decompose over several years and the same amount of added nutrients may not be needed in subsequent years.

Warning

One drawback to using chicken manure for fertilizing your lawn is its tendency to contain some weed seeds.

Lawns fertilized with manure will have an odor until the manure has decomposed.

According to lawncare.net, chicken manure is a hot manure and can burn your plants.

If you are trying to keep up with the 'green' movement by avoiding chemicals in every area of your life, you may want to try chicken manure as a fertilizer for your lawn. Chicken manure is one of the better organic fertilizers and is valued for its low weed seed content. You can use your own chicken manure if it is composted properly to remove the ammonia, or you can purchase commercially mixed pre-composted manure from your local garden center.

Steps

Step 1

Rake the area to be fertilized to de-thatch the soil. This helps remove any dead grass, stones or leaves. If your lawn was recently seeded, do not rake it as you will disturb the new sprouts.

Step 2

Measure the area to be fertilized. According to ewsa.com, commercial chicken manure should be applied at a rate of about 40 pounds to every 100 square feet.

Step 3

Divide your 100 square foot area into smaller equal sections using a baseball chalk liner or twine.

Step 4

Divide your 40-pound bag of chicken manure into equal amounts-split between the number of sections you have marked off.

Step 5

Add a divided amount of chicken manure to your bucket and carry it to a section. Using a cup or your gloved hands, toss the manure over the grass or seeded area. Repeat this step for each section until all sections are complete.

Step 6

Water your lawn thoroughly with a light spray to help the manure move down to the soil. It is best not to leave manure on the tender shoots because the high nitrogen content can burn grass.

References

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