Can deer manure be put in the compost or used directly on a garden?
Depending on where you live in the valley, keeping deer manure out of your garden would be a major accomplishment and one that most of us don't dream of achieving, so I'm guessing that you're asking the question because you have a surprising amount of it kicking around and you're tired of trying to avoid it every time you head out your back door.
I looked for information to suggest that deliberately putting deer manure on a garden carries any greater risks and/or benefits than throwing down cattle, horse or sheep manure and that doesn't appear to be the case. Manure, regardless of its source, can contain pathogens that cause illness in humans or domestic animals. If it's too fresh, it can burn plants or rob them of nitrogen. Manure can also contain weed seeds, so many gardeners compost it before putting it on their gardens in the hopes of keeping problems to a minimum.
That being said, deer manure should confer all of the benefits that you get from any other manure, including adding nutrients, improving soil structure, increasing water holding capacity and improving aeration.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at vanessa@gardenmuse.ca.
