I am shocked that you would even consider doing something that might infect your roses.

!

Some bedtime reading:

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b152c0_d42726a1f5b444d5967e72192a8b3c62.pdf

rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)

I appreciate your response! I’m a total newbie to growing roses. I’ve only ever grown veggies and other (non-rose) flowers. I would throw the chicken manure in my other flower garden and just mix it up wigh the existing soil. I am learning that roses are susceptible to diseases in ways that my other plants are not. I won’t use the old chicken manure on my roses! I just didnt know if old manure is diseased, or if it will cause disease.

Geez rifs....my goodness what a strong reply to a simple question from a newbie!

Andrea, I bet your chicken manure is fine--it's just the ammonia being contained in the sealed bag (causing anaerobic reactions). It would be quite strong. Let it air out for a few days and then use it according to the directions. I've done this myself and there were absolutely no issues. Just make sure the manure isn't directly on the plants (you probably knew this already). But mix it into the soil a bit and I am sure it will be fine.

Robert, I totally agree with you. Yours is one of the most reasonable posts I've read lately, given all the uproar that's going on in the forum currently. Diane

PDXRobertZ8

1 hour ago

“Geez rifs....my goodness what a strong reply to a simple question from a newbie!”

Yeah, Robert, you’re right.

The evocation of Claude Rains was over the top. And the exclamation mark - most distressing.

Had no idea she’s a rank beginner.

Sorry Andrea! (ouch - !)

Knowing me, I would probably dump the bag on top of my compost pile and just mix it in with the rest lol.

Andrea, let me explain my response to your post. The soil will have a myriad of good things in it: good fungi, microbes, good bacteria, planaria, all kinds of good protozoans, earthworms, pill bugs, etc. They will g to work on the chicken manure which by itself is very strong, and they will break the manure down to be wonderfully beneficial to your roses and do then no harm. Still, chicken manure, all broken down is very high in its potency which is why a pint per bush is enough, unless the bush is huge or an established climber. Young bushes take feeding in lower doses, giving them just enough to kept them in optimal shape.

So mix in good garden soil from a place that has been relatively untouched. For every gallon of manure, only a pint of soil is needed. Mix it in thoroughly, then store in an old plastic feed bag with holes punched in it where rain can IIhit it and forget about it until this coming fall, just before Thanksgiving. By then it should well mellowed out and safe. Just scratch the prescribed amount in the soil around the bush in a ring about 6" away from the rose's crown minimally, no closer.

My sister-in-law is an Andrea, and she is the matriarch, 'in session,' of my family of 20+ loyal subjects, who love her immensely. She loves almond trees for their very early blooms, which young tree II gifted her some years ago bloomed for the first time this spring, 2024. She was delighted. Thought you might enjoy this anecdote. 😊

Moses

I'd use it without reservations. I'm making the assumption that the only reason that you are asking the question about bagged chicken manure and rain is that the bag is heavier than when you bought it.? Rain soaked inside and outside? If that's true, some of the nitrogen may have leached away making it less valuable as a fertilizer but still useful as a soil conditioner. If it is stinky it might contain some anerobic bacteria but that will not infect your roses.

Roses are just plants. I bet if you treat them like your veggies, you will have great rose plants.