Q&A for How to Compost Horse Manure

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How do you get cone-shaped heavy duty plastic compost bins hot? For the last three weeks I have been adding horse manure to the usual kitchen waste.

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

You can simply place a black tarp over the compost bins. This will increase the amount of heat that gets trapped in the bins.

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Question

I have 2 compost bins that are heavy duty plastic: in one I have kitchen waste mixed with horse manure, the other one has just horse manure. How do I keep them warm?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

They should be able to heat up on their own, but if you are needing extra heat you can put a black tarp over the pile to attract the sun and heat up the pile.

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I have been given horse manure to begin composting. What type container do I put it in?

Community Answer

Build a compost box from 3 wooden pallets (two sides and a back). You can find many 'how-to's on YouTube.

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Question

What kind of kitchen waste can I compost with the manure?

Community Answer

Anything that was previously 'alive' can be composted. Kitchen waste is green waste and green waste contributes to about 20% of your material, the rest is brown material for the correct mix of nitrogen and carbon.

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Can I put lime on horse manure compost?

Community Answer

You don't want to add lime, it will kill the good compost bacteria and fungi that is necessary for good compost by making the compost more alkaline. If smell develops, your compost went anaerobic. You need to turn the compost and most likely it was too wet. Manure composting is part of my natural horse habitat concept, it's a great way to improve your pasture and also interrupt the worm cycles.

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