Any soil type-clay, sand or loam-will benefit from the addition of organic matter. In a clay soil, the addition of organic matter opens up the tightly packed particles, allowing for water and air to penetrate easier. In a sandy soil, organic mater adds nutrients and body to the soil, improving its capacity to hold water.

Loam is what is considered the ideal soil. The addition of organic matter will keep it in the best shape, attracting worms into your soil and keeping it rich and healthy.

So what sort of organic matter is best? Any and lots of it. Manure, straw, hay and compost.

When it comes to manure, unlike vegetables, fresh is not best. Fresh manure might not do much harm to your soil but it can burn or kill your plants. Be especially careful of fresh chicken manure, let it age for at least 12 months to let out some of the ammonia and uric acid. Also be careful of applying large amounts of chicken manure to sandy soil, as it can possibly cause potassium toxicity.

Personally, I like cow manure and horse manure. They are milder and have a greater amount of fibrous material in them.

If you are collecting the manure yourself, check with the owner that the manure making machines haven