This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Poultry manure pellets
I have seen this product mentioned many times on the forum so am going to give it a go this year. Can anyone enlighten me as to it's nutritional value and how best to use it?
In the past I have generally used a liquid feed for flowers in the summer and a handful of growmore in the hole when planting shrubs etc. I feel like a neglectful parent when I read of all the lovely stuff you feed your gardens with .
Online Wilko have it at £4.50 for a 7kg tub, is this a good price? Also they have FB&B at £1.50 for 1.5kg, was thinking of buying both.
My garden is clay, much improved by the addition of compost over the years to make it less heavy in the borders. Any advice is much appreciated.
0
Posts
Pelleted poultry manure contains less nutrition than Growmore and releases its nutrients more slowly as the soil warms up. It is also slightly alkaline so shouldn't be used near ericaceous plants and you will need extra specialist fertilisers for gross feeders such as roses and clematis. However, it is organic so improves soil better than Growmore which is a by-product of oil refining. You need to check the label as quality and nutrient levels will vary from one brand to another.
Here's what the RHS has to say - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=297
Thanks for the advice. I wasn't aware it was alkaline, I got a sulphate of iron last year for my azaleas and pieris so will stick with that for my acid lovers and get the FB&B for nutrition.
Don't do roses but will be having a go with some salad crops, french beans and tomatoes (will use tomato feed) this year for the first time. Do fresh peas every year but they don't like it too rich do they.
Chicken pellets are good for green growth. I always through in a handful of it when I plant such plants...so trees, palms, grasses, Cordylines, shrubs etc. You can top dress with it as well.
The pellets I use are a mix of chicken, cow and horse manure and have a better nutrients ration than just chicken. I scatter them liberally across all the beds in spring once we get regularly above 8 to 10C and also use it as a top dressing for my hosta pots every spring. Pots of lilies and agapanthus get rose fertiliser as do other flowering plants in pots and baskets.