How Much Composted/Bagged Cow Manure To Use In A Vegetable Garden?

Q: How much composted and bagged cow manure should I add to my vegetable garden before planting?

A: Bagged cow manure contains very little nutrition for plants. And as for adding organic matter to your soil, there are better materials available. Finely screened pine bark chips are commonly sold as soil conditioner. To markedly affect soil composition, a layer a couple inches thick should be tilled into the top 6 inches of soil. After your soil has been made to be coarse and well drained, you can use garden fertilizer, either organic or synthetic, to help your vegetables grow strong. I have an online collection of University of Georgia publications you can use to learn about gardening at http://www.walterreeves.com/food-gardening/uga-vegetable-gardening-publications/.