Mushroom Manure FAQs
Q. Will mushroom manure burn my plants?
A. Mushroom manure has been well composted, and so will not burn (mushrooms were grown in it already). You can use it safely on new plants.
Q. Does mushroom manure have any weed seeds?
A. Mushroom manure has been steamed as part of the mushroom growing process, killing any weed seeds.
Q. Is mushroom manure better than commercial fertilizer?
A.
Yes, because mushroom manure contains many micro nutrients (see Detailed Analysis). Also, mushroom manure must be broken down by the microorganisms in the soil which are only active when conditions are right for growth for the plant. In contrast, when rain falls on synthetic chemicals, they tend to crack and start releasing their nutrition which encourages a flush of growth. New growth is very attractive to insects. They key in on certain colors such as light green, so they are much more likely to attack a plant growing too rapidly than one growing slowly and uniformly.
Q. When should I apply mushroom manure?
A.
It is typically applied in the spring to give plants a boost, or in the fall to build up the soil and keep the weeds down. It can be applied as a mulch at any time to feed your plants and help retain the moisture in the soil
Q. Do I need to dig it in to the soil?
A.
It's only necessary to dig it in if your soil needs to be loosened up. If you spread it on the surface the worms will do the work, as they will ingest the mushroom manure and work it into the soil for you!
Q. How much mushroom manure should I use?
A.
If your soil hasn't had any humous added recently, you should apply about two inches of mushroom manure initially. Subsequently, applying one inch of mushroom manure yearly will suffice for most applications.
Q. Will mushroom manure alter the acidity (Ph) of my soil?
A. No. Mushroom manure is essentially neutral (Ph 7.2), so it won't alter the Ph of your soil.
Q. Is it good for vegetable gardens?
A.
Mushroom manure is 100% humous and nutrient rich, and does an excellent job of building up the soil. It works well for all types of plants, especially heavy feeders like tomatoes and rhubarb. It is also recommended for fruit trees (mulch around the roots).
