Composted Cow Manure with Peat Moss - 1 Cu. Ft. Bag

Looking for a soil amendment that feeds your garden and holds moisture where other compost falls short? Otter River Black Gold Cow Manure Compost with Peat Moss blends fully composted cow manure with peat moss for a soil amendment that improves fertility, structure, and water retention in one bag — ideal for vegetable gardens, flower beds, lawns, and new plantings.

What Is Cow Manure Compost with Peat Moss?

It's exactly what it sounds like: a fully composted cow manure base blended with peat moss, sold as Otter River Black Gold's "Plus" line. It's not raw manure and not a synthetic fertilizer — it's a finished soil amendment you work into your soil, ready to use straight from the bag.

The peat moss is what sets it apart from our plain Organic Cow Manure Compost: it adds extra water-holding capacity and a slightly lower (more acidic) pH, which matters for certain plants and certain soil types.

Lab-Tested Results: Cow Manure Compost & Peat Moss Analysis

More than just claims, the test results prove the quality. Penn State Extension's Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory ran a full compost analysis on this exact blend. The results:

What this means in plain terms:

•        pH 6.8 is close to neutral — safe to use around most garden plants and lawns without swinging your soil pH in an unwanted direction.

•        Soluble salts of 3.33 mmhos/cm are moderate, not "hot" — some composts run high enough in salts to stress young roots or seedlings; this one is in a safe working range.

•        A 34:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is a sign of a fully mature, stable compost — it's finished breaking down, so it won't tie up nitrogen in your soil the way an under-composted product can.

•        Real N-P-K (0.29% - 0.21% - 0.39% as-is) means this isn't just filler — it's genuinely contributing nutrients, on top of everything the organic matter and peat moss are doing for soil structure.

Why Add Peat Moss? (Benefits Over Plain Cow Manure Compost)

Peat moss isn't just filler — it's doing real work:

•        Holds moisture longer. Peat moss can hold several times its weight in water, so this blend keeps roots hydrated between waterings better than compost alone — especially valuable in sandy or fast-draining soil.

•        Works as a real soil conditioner for clay soil, at the same time it's helping sandy soil hold water — peat moss's fibrous structure works both directions, loosening dense, compacted clay while adding water-holding capacity to loose, fast-draining soil.

•        Slightly acidic pH benefits acid-loving plants — blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas (peat moss is a classic amendment for hydrangea color and azalea/blueberry bed prep).

•        Lighter, fluffier texture than straight compost, making it easier to work into beds and containers by hand.

•        Helps grass seed germinate when used as a light topdressing over freshly seeded lawn areas — peat moss retains the surface moisture grass seed needs to germinate, without the crusting that straight soil or compost can cause.

Best Uses for This Peat Moss Cow Manure Blend

•        Vegetable gardens and raised beds (mix into soil before planting)

•        Flower beds and acid-loving ornamentals (hydrangeas, azaleas, rhododendrons)

•        Lawn top-dressing and overseeding prep — a genuine soil conditioner for grass, loosening compacted turf soil while feeding it

•        Tree and shrub planting (mix into backfill soil)

•        General soil conditioning for compacted clay or fast-draining sandy soil

How Much Peat Moss Compost Do You Need?

•        New beds: work in 2–3 inches across the planting area

•        Established beds/top-dressing: a ½–1 inch layer worked into the top few inches of soil

•        Container plants: blend 25–50% into your potting mix

Certified Organic Soil Conditioner, PFAS-Free

This compost is certified for organic use by Baystate Organic Certifiers and tested PFAS/PFOA-free.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Peat Moss Compost

Is this different from the regular Organic Cow Manure Compost?

Yes — this blend adds peat moss to the same composted cow manure base. The peat moss adds extra moisture retention, a slightly lower pH (better for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas and blueberries), and a lighter texture. If you don't need those specific benefits, our plain Organic Cow Manure Compost is the simpler option.

Is it safe for vegetable gardens?

Yes. It's fully composted (not raw manure), lab-tested at a safe, moderate salt level, and certified for organic use.

Will it change my soil's pH?

Slightly — it tests at pH 6.8, just on the acidic side of neutral, which is safe for nearly all garden plants and especially beneficial for acid-loving ones.

Can I use it for lawn overseeding?

Yes, as a light top-dressing over grass seed to help retain the surface moisture seed needs to germinate. If you want a weed-free seed cover specifically, pair it with our Salt Hay — salt hay covers and protects the seed itself, while this compost blend preps and feeds the soil underneath. They solve different parts of the same job, not the same job twice.

Is this a soil conditioner or a fertilizer?

Both, in practice. It's not a synthetic fertilizer, but the composted manure contributes real N-P-K (see the lab results above), while the peat moss does the structural work of a soil conditioner — loosening clay, adding water-holding capacity, and improving overall soil tilth.