How to Break Down Horse Manures Fast

Growing a vegetable or flower garden requires a specific set of conditions, one of which is good, nutritious compost to act as a mulch, soil amendment and fertilizer. Since buying compost can get expensive, many people start compost piles or worm bins to produce their own. If you have horses on your property, you already have the perfect makings for a compost factory.

Things You'll Need

  • Wheelbarrow
  • Pitchfork
  • Shovel
  • Wooden landscaping bins (with lids, three to four)
  • Tarp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the composting bins on level ground, in a spot removed from both house and table. This spot may become prone to both flies and odor, so make sure that it is easily accessible on foot, and with your wheelbarrow. Don't put the bins in a low-lying spot that is prone to puddling.

    • 2

      Fill each bin, one at a time, with horse manure and bedding from the horses' stalls. Shovel the manure and bedding in until the bin is full. Spray it with water until the entire mixture is moist. Use the shovel to turn the mixture over and mix it. Put lids on full bins, or cover them with a tarp.

    • 3

      Mix your compost piles daily. Mix more often for the process to work more quickly. Water the compost as needed to maintain the original level of moisture. Moisture and air break down the manure and bedding, so turn the mix two to three times a day to break down the manure more quickly.

    • 4

      Use your compost after two to three months, when the volume is reduced and the consistency of the compost pile is uniform.