Text only | Text with Images

Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Lottie3 on November 11, 2005, 23:45:06

Title: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: Lottie3 on November 11, 2005, 23:45:06
Can anyone help? Can I use horse manure as mulch for bare beds - don't know how old it is but thought I might be able to use it if I'm not digging it in.

Thanks you.

Lottie 3
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: sandersj89 on November 12, 2005, 10:26:53
Do you know what bedding material was used for the horses, if it is wood shavings these can take upto 3 years to breakdown and if not rotted they can lock in nitogen.

Jerry
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: sandersj89 on November 12, 2005, 14:26:25
Quote from: wardy on November 12, 2005, 10:31:45
Jerry   I have never seen manure with wood shavings in it.  Do you think it's a regional thing but all the stuff I have is on straw so I assume everyone else's is  ;D

Not sure about the regional aspect but many stables use wood shavings as straw is more expensive and some horses dont like it as it can give them an alergic reaction.

Jerry
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: sammyd on November 12, 2005, 16:50:51
we got some manure about a month ago... it seemed to have more straw and shavings than poo.....


still in a pile until i find out what to do with it

Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: Icyberjunkie on November 12, 2005, 20:06:20
Lottie3,  you can generally tell how old it is by its appearance.  THe more it looks like compost the older, the more it looks like balls of horse poo the younger it is!   If it smells of urine its very fresh and best kept away from your plants.

With regards the mulching,  I use it all over my flower beds in the garden and under the apple trees and raspberries as a mulch on the lottie so you should be fine.

Iain
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: Lottie3 on November 12, 2005, 22:54:44
Thank you all

I love those little worms - I think garden centres should sell worms instead of spades.

I got the manure from an animal sanctuary which has mostly horses and goats ... oh and a pot belly pig. They have a mound about quarter football pitch in size and walk the fresh stuff round to the back I discovered today when I went to get more. The stuff I have is wet but seems like soggy earth - it's with straw. I took the plunge today and laid it as a mulch over a couple of my beds.

Here's hoping my clay will turn into miracle soil.

Lottie

Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: growmore on November 12, 2005, 23:51:46
This is getting spread on one of my plots tomorrow to over winter.Fresh delivered today.
Jim
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: Lottie3 on November 14, 2005, 23:05:17
I get the picture literally  ;) - think I need a few more trips to load my little car up managed a bed and a half  ith 15 bags just another 10 beds to go phew.
Title: Re: Manure as mulch - how steaming?
Post by: the_snail on November 16, 2005, 01:36:54
I had 3 ton of it for my birthday when I reached 21 :D

That was 7 years ago but hey I love a pile of horse or cow poo.

The_Snail
Text only | Text with Images