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Archive for the mulch tag

Can rabbit manure be used as mulch around plants?

March 11, 2021   •   Leave a Comment

We have a pet house rabbit that is litter trained. Can the manure and litter (made from recycled newsprint) be used as mulch in a perennial bed or around trees and shrubs?

This sounds like a gold mine since rabbits are vegetarians. But it comes with significant cautions. Rabbit manure is higher in nitrogen than even chicken manure. It also contains phosphorus. Nitrogen is great for leaf production. The phosphorus is good for fruit and flower production. So consider exactly what you will be enhancing with its application. Average N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) analysis of composted rabbit manure is 2-1-0.8, which is relatively low compared to other commercial products. In order for the manure to be useful, it must be hot composted, preferably for a year, to reduce the probability of transmitting any pathogens lurking in the litter. A hot compost pile should measure at least 150 degrees in temperature.

Composting the litter changes the material into a form plants can better use. It also allows odors to dissipate. After the year-long composting, it should be applied to the soil in late fall and worked in. Preferably, it should not be used as mulch and never uncomposted, as the high level of nitrogen can actually burn and damage plants, even with the newsprint base. Since it has to be worked into the soil to be effective, you might find this easier with your perennial bed in fall than disturbing the roots of trees and shrubs.

Related: Bunny honey – Using rabbit manure as a fertilizer

Filed Under: Ask MG Tagged With: litter, manure, mulch, perennials, rabbit, shrubs

How much mulch is required to cover my garden?

April 29, 2011   •   

I want to cover a 12 foot by 25 foot area with 3 inches of mulch. How many yards should I get?
The first thing to decide is how deep you want your mulch, which you have determined to be 3 inches (or 1/4 foot). Then use this formula to calculate the cubic yards: (length x width x depth)/27. For your 12 x 25 foot area: 12 x 25 x .25 = 75. 75/27 = 2.77. So, you need 3 cubic yards. Of course, this formula will work for any material, such as topsoil, compost, mulch, etc.
Need to figure out how much mulch you need for your project? Try out the handy Michigan Gardener soil and much calculator.

Filed Under: Ask MG Tagged With: calculator, mulch, yards

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