🐄 Rotted Cow Manure — Application Rates and Tips

In short: Rotted cow manure is a soil improver and organic fertiliser. Tammaru Farm’s manure has matured for 3+ years, contains no soil, peat, straw or sawdust, and is ready to use straight away.

Rates from the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide:

  • Fruit trees: 6–10 kg per planting hole
  • Perennials: 4–8 kg/m² when creating the bed
  • Roses: 10–30 kg/m² at planting
  • 30 L bags (20–25 kg), €5.50–9.00 per bag
  • Delivery in Tallinn and Harju County in 1–3 working days
  • Minimum 5 bags, or 1 bag together with firewood or briquettes

What is rotted cow manure?

Rotted manure is manure that has decomposed naturally over a long time. During decomposition the ammonia content falls and the material becomes stable, even and soil-like. This is why rotted manure is gentler on plant roots than fresh manure and can be used straight away, without further composting.

Rotted manure is not the same as compost soil or a potting mix. The 40–60 L compost soil sold in shops contains, depending on the product, soil, peat or other fillers with added manure. A Tammaru Farm 30 L bag contains only rotted cow manure – so you need a smaller quantity.

Why choose Tammaru Farm rotted cow manure?

– Matured for 3+ years – stable, even and gentler on roots than fresh manure
– Neutral smell – a clean earthy scent, easy to use in a city garden or greenhouse
– Clean composition – only rotted cow manure
– Ready to use – no further composting needed
– Soil improver – organic matter improves soil structure and water retention
– Handy packaging – a 30 L bag is easy to carry and store

What can it be used for?

Garden beds, greenhouses, planting holes for fruit trees and berry bushes, under perennials and roses, and as an organic component in a compost heap.

📊 How much rotted manure to use?

— according to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide

Fruit trees

At planting: 6–10 kg per planting hole, mixed with soil.

Currant and gooseberry bushes

At planting: 6–8 kg per planting hole, mixed with soil.
In the following years: 4–5 kg/m² under the bush canopy, up to 1 m from the canopy edge.

Raspberries

Before planting: 4–6 kg/m², dug into the soil.

Strawberries

2–3 months before planting: 6–10 kg/m² to prepare the soil.

Perennials

When creating the bed: 4–8 kg/m².
As a maintenance fertiliser: 4–6 kg/m² every two years.

Bulb flowers

At autumn planting: 3–6 kg/m² on the planting area.

Roses

At planting: 10–30 kg/m² in the soil mix.
In late autumn (mounding): 5–10 kg/m² around the bush; spread it out and dig it in in spring.

One 30 L bag (20–25 kg) covers about 0.7–6 m², depending on the rate, or is enough for 2–4 planting holes.

How many bags do I need?

– Four new fruit trees – 2 bags
– Planting five roses – 2 bags
– Late-autumn mounding of a rose bed, 10 bushes – 2–5 bags
– Preparing a strawberry bed, 10 m² – 3–5 bags
– Creating a new perennial bed, 15 m² – 3–6 bags
– Creating a new bulb flower bed, 10 m² – 2–3 bags

The figures are calculated using the Luua Forestry School rates.

When to use rotted manure?

– Spring – before planting, mix rotted manure into the topsoil; prepare a strawberry bed 2–3 months before planting
– Summer – a thin layer as a top-dressing, for example for roses before the second flowering
– Autumn – preparing beds for the next season, planting bulb flowers and mounding roses
– Storage – rotted manure does not spoil; covered bags can be stored for several years

🧪 What nutrients does rotted manure contain?

According to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide, cattle manure generally contains the following plant nutrients. These are general figures from specialist literature, not a laboratory analysis of our specific batch.

Nitrogen (N) – promotes vegetative growth, especially of leaves and shoots. With a deficiency, leaves turn pale.
Phosphorus (P) – needed for root development and flowering. With a deficiency, root growth is weak and flowering is delayed.
Potassium (K) – increases resistance to lodging, cold, drought and disease, and improves crop quality.
Calcium (Ca) – important for building cell walls and for cell division.
Magnesium (Mg) – part of chlorophyll and involved in photosynthesis.
Iron (Fe) – needed to keep leaves green. With a deficiency, leaves turn yellowish, starting with the younger leaves.
Manganese (Mn) – promotes photosynthesis and nitrogen uptake.

The nutrient content of manure varies from batch to batch, depending on feed, bedding and decomposition conditions.

💰 Warehouse prices — rotted cow manure 30 L, prices include VAT

1–4 bags – €9.00 per bag

5 bags – €7.50 per bag (17% cheaper)

10 bags – €7.00 per bag (22% cheaper)

20 bags – €6.50 per bag (28% cheaper)

30 bags – €6.00 per bag (33% cheaper)

45+ bags – €5.50 per bag (39% cheaper)

🚚 Ordering and delivery

– Order by phone +372 52 388 52 or via the order form
– Delivery in Tallinn and Harju County usually within 1–3 working days
– Further away by agreement
– The delivery cost depends on quantity and distance and is agreed in advance
– Goods are unloaded next to the van – please agree the exact spot when ordering

📍 Pick-up — Tallinn warehouse, Veerme 23 (on the Nõmme border)

– This is a warehouse, not a shop – please agree the visit time by phone in advance
– Open Mon–Sun by agreement
– Picking up by car works well, as rotted manure has a neutral smell. Each bag weighs about 20–25 kg – be sure to cover the boot floor with a strong, intact plastic sheet

🌱
Q&A: Using rotted cow manure
What is the difference between rotted and fresh manure?
Rotted manure has decomposed naturally over a long time and is stable. Its ammonia content falls during decomposition, so rotted manure is gentler on plant roots than fresh manure. Tammaru Farm cow manure has decomposed for 3+ years and is ready to use.
How much rotted manure should I put in a fruit tree planting hole?
According to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide, 6–10 kg per planting hole, mixed with soil. One 30 L bag (20–25 kg) is enough for 2–4 planting holes.
How much rotted manure should I use on a strawberry bed?
According to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide, 6–10 kg/m², 2–3 months before planting, to prepare the soil. A 10 m² strawberry bed needs 3–5 bags.
How much rotted manure should I put in a perennial bed?
According to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide, 4–8 kg/m² when creating the bed and 4–6 kg/m² every two years as a maintenance fertiliser. A new 15 m² bed needs 3–6 bags.
Does rotted manure need to be mixed with soil?
At planting, yes – mix it with soil in the planting hole or bed. For currants and gooseberries, spread it under the bush canopy in the following years. When mounding roses in late autumn, heap it around the bush, then spread it out and dig it in in spring.
Can rotted manure be placed directly against plant roots?
Better not. When planting, put a thin layer of ordinary garden soil between the roots and the soil mixed with manure, and do not heap manure against the root collar. Even well-rotted manure should be used within the recommended rates.
What nutrients does cow manure contain?
According to the Luua Forestry School fertilisation guide, cow manure generally contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn).
When is the best time to apply rotted manure?
In spring before planting and when preparing the soil, in summer as a top-dressing, and in late autumn when mounding. Rotted manure does not spoil – covered bags can be stored for several years.

Related pages

Ordering rotted cow manure and the order form
Rotted manure as a compost ingredient
Fertilising roses with rotted manure

Order: +372 52 388 52

Updated: 18 October 2026