If you raise rabbits or have access to rabbit manure, you have found an perfect mixture of nutrients to feed your strawberry plants. Because rabbit manure is richer in nitrogen and phosphorus than cow manure, by way of example, you don’t need to work with as much to feed your strawberries — that saves your spine as well as your budget.
Rabbit Manure Advantages
Unlike chemical fertilizers or powdered organic fertilizers, animal manures add humus to the soil, along with macronutrients and trace minerals. Because of this, rabbit manure improves both soil fertility and soil texture, sometimes known as tilth. Rabbit manure is much higher than cow or horse manure in nitrogen, and leads phosphorus, potassium and trace minerals.
First Year
Do not add manure at planting time, because too rich soil may come in rotted fruit or even more leaves than berries. Rather, prepare your strawberry beds using enough compost to raise them slightly over the ground for improved drainage. Notice the plants closely to determine when they desire a manure boost in the first six weeks. If strawberry plants fail to thrive and develop sickly, light green leaf, side dress the plants using old rabbit manure. Side dressing entails putting a band of dried manure in front of each row of plants, and then watering the area thoroughly. Because rabbit manure is more concentrated than other animal manures, the layer of rabbit manure shouldn’t exceed 1 inch in height.
Maintenance
In following decades, use aged rabbit manure each spring since the plants begin to blossom. Side-dress each row of strawberry plants using a narrow band of aged manure that’s 1/2 to 1 inch in height. Water the stain thoroughly following side-dressing, to allow nutrients in the rabbit manure to sink in the dirt.
Caution
Fresh rabbit manure can still carry weed seeds, as well as pathogens which can be transferred to plants that are edible. In addition, the nitrogen in new manures can release too much heat as the material decomposes, which leads to damaged plant roots. Always age rabbit, steer, poultry and other manures for at least six months prior to using them around plants.