The Master Gardener program began in the 1970's in response to the many gardening questions that resulted from the rapidly increasing level of interest in home gardening. The idea was to train knowledgeable gardener volunteers to help University Extension staff deliver home gardening information to the public.

Our local Master Gardeners are able to build on their interests and acquire greater expertise through the resources available through the Extension Service and the University of Missouri.

University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Hickory County Master Gardeners recommend contacting your local Extension Service for more complete plant and growing information and how to become a Master Gardener.

Meetings are reserved for Master Gardener members, but community programs hosted by the Master Gardeners are public events and will be announced in the local newspaper.

As of 12/31/2014, this blog will no longer post new articles. It will remain active as an archive. Please use the tools available in the right column to search for information and source links provided in previous articles.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://extension.missouri.edu/ and http://mg.missouri.edu/.


Rabbit Manure

Enrich Your Soil with Golden Nuggets from the Ozarks 



Rabbit poop has made my gardening easier and more productive. It is considered a "cold" manure; because you don't have to let it age or compost before you use it. Other manures that come from chickens, sheep, horse, cows, and pigs are "hot" manures, they need to be composted for months before you can safely use them or you'll burn your little plant darlings to death.  Manures are an excellent way to give back to your garden the nutrients that has been taken out through previous harvests. Manures also improve the soil's organic matter and stimulates microbial activity. All these things also helps the water drainage of heavy clay soils like we have here in the Ozarks. 

Hot manures needs to be composted before using. The composting process will kill most weed seeds and pathogens. The hot manures come from mostly cows and horses. They are grazers and eat a large amount of foliage that contain weed seeds that can re-sprout in your garden if it is not composted. Rabbit poop does not have that problem because most rabbitries feed their rabbits pelletized feed, avoiding the weed seed issue. There are two camps of thought as to whether rabbit poop should or should not be composted. Some feel all manures should be composted for safety reasons. It would be the best advise to do so. However, I have never found that necessary in the 40 years I have gardened. I have used it fresh for years without any issues nor have I ever heard of anyone having any problems with fresh rabbit poop burning their plants.

Rabbit is also higher in nutrients than other traditional manures. As a comparison, rabbit poop has Nitrogen (N) - 2.4, Phosphorus (P) - 1.4, Potassium (K) - .60. You would think the higher nitrogen rate would burn garden plants. It does not burn because it decomposes slower releasing its nutrients over a longer period of time.  For more information about traditional manure choices and their comparison see:  http://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6220

The biggest negative part of rabbit poop is finding a good source. Rabbitry numbers have dwindled down a lot in years past do to a loss of commercial buyers for rabbit meat in the Ozarks. However, rabbitries still abound and can be found. Due to their small scale, you will not find them in the yellow pages. Look for them on Craig's list or other local sources. You will more than likely pay a higher price because rabbitries are very well aware of the magical growing properties and its limited availability. 

In the spring as I drive down the gravel road in my pickup for a load of rabbit poop, I have the biggest smile on my face because I know how abundant my garden will be.  This manure choice has made gardening so much easier for me. I don't have the weeds that I use to have using traditional manures. I also just don't have the time and available space to manage a large compost pile. The way it releases its nutrients over a longer time frame ensures my garden has all it needs all season long. In my option it is truly magical and I am willing to find a source and pay little higher for it...it is worth it!
Rabbit Poop was added to my terraced Ozark gardens again in 2014; a week before planting cold crop seeds mid-March.  The green rows in the photo are spinach that was planted late last fall and went dormant after the first couple leaves emerged.  It survived a very harsh winter uncovered and started growing again in mid-March.  Harvested 10 gallon bags of spinach on April 14, 2014.  
Spinach is a super-food…or was it the rabbit poop?


Source:  Keith Pearson, Hickory County Master Gardener;

 Plants to Grow website 

 Posted:  5/2/14

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