Hi,
I have filled my 5 raised beds with horse manure in mid november and have turned them over fortnightly,can i put some home made compost onto the beds now?
You can but my question is do you really need to? with all that manure already on them. Wouldn't it be better using it somewhere else.
I covered my raised beds with horse manure or compost in October, protected them with black weed suppressant sheeting and hopefully the worms have been turning it over for me.
http://allaboutallotments.com/
Only if you need to top up the beds, otherwise use the compost elsewhere
You might need to add something to fill up the space left as the manure rotted and lost volume, but there's no hurry.
Personally, I'd save it for elsewhere.
We've had our garden for almost two years and the raised beds are still about 3-4 inches lower than their eventual height. I'm gradually adding more compost with twice yearly mulching, but I'm not in any hurry!
I agree with everyone else, use the compost elsewhere. I assume the manure is well rotted?
I am afraid to turn over the compost heap in case I wake up any hibernating wildlife ! ::)
Not many people would think of that woodypecks, could be hedgehogs, field mice, grass snakes who knows what in there, Well done you and for pointing it out. :)
With regard to the two previous posts, I admit it hadn't thought about hibernating animals and I agree, well done for thinking about it.
It's toads I find and they are so hard to see at times,I think they are beautiful!
Well thanks for the replies,they are much appreciated.
What about turning the compost ove in the raised beds? or shall i just leave it untill the soil warms up?
I have put plenty of horse manure on too in late October.
once agin i am really gratefull for your comments
Some people like Jennym have given me great advice from here before and I will continue to pop in here more often and hopefully contribute to various debates in the future.
Cheers
Is it too late to add horse manure now, or should i wait. A friend of mine has some horses , i was going to nip up next week to get a few bags? ???
Quote from: JoeCocker on January 16, 2011, 13:37:31
Is it too late to add horse manure now, or should i wait. A friend of mine has some horses , i was going to nip up next week to get a few bags? ???
If it`s well rotted it can be applied at any time during the year. If fresh, stack it somewhere so that it will rot down, do not use fresh manure.
I agree you can put manure onto the soil whenever you want just as long as it is well rotted down. The only problem with using it in the spring and summer is that, with the vegetable garden so full, you will find it difficult to dig in.