Choosing the Right Manure for Lawns and Gardens: Cow vs. Horse

Nutrient Comparison

• Cow manure: 5.7–7.2% nitrogen (dry weight).
• Horse manure: ~3.2% nitrogen (dry weight).

Best Practices

• Use only well-rotted, composted manure to avoid weed seeds and pathogens.
• Incorporate 1–3 inches into top 6 inches of soil for new beds.
• For lawns: top-dress with 1/8–1/4 inch compost/manure blend after core aeration.
• Fresh manure should only be used as light top-dressing on beds, never touching plant stems.

Recommendation

For lawns, use controlled commercial fertilizers for precise nitrogen management. Reserve composted manure for vegetable and flower gardens where soil organic matter (5% target) is more critical.