Can I use fresh horse manure instead of topsoil?

Question

I am getting my garden ready so I may put down turf and am trying to do it as cost effective as possible.
Will the manure do the same as the topsoil?

Answer 1

Fresh manure it really "hot". It contains a lot of soluble salts which ill-affect seedling development. Manure should be well composted before using it any growing application.

so will it do the same as topsoil? NO!

Compost the manure, then add it to your soil and it will be beneficial.

Answer 2

Using fresh manure will probably kill your garden plants. It contains too much nitrogen and other chemicals. Manure should be composted or tilled into the garden at the end of the growing season to let it deteriorate. Horse manure contains more "active" weed seeds also since the digestion in horses is less than cows.