I have been lucky enough to acquire about 2 ton of farm yard manure for my garden (delivered free too) Is it too late to put around the borders and into my small veggie patch? Would I be better adding it to the compost heap? It seems very well rotted down. I know that I wouldn't be able to plant things like carrots in freshly manured ground but I'm not that bothered really (about the carrots etc). My other question is how exactly does the manure work. Does it improve the soil or does it actually 'feed' the plants growing in it?
Well get is free a farmer delivers it almost weekly, as i understand it toy cant put the new stuff on root veg, but well rotted stuff is good on onions and spuds, it really duz improve the soil, and it makes it very easy to dig and make the soil hold water better, and it will act as a fertiliser, that's how understood it anyway
My other question is how exactly does the manure work. Does it improve the soil or does it actually 'feed' the plants growing in it?
Well..
Manure is usually rich with organic matter, so by adding it into your soil you will feed the 'little critters' in your soil and they in return will enrich the soil. If the manure is been dug into soil..it will open up soil structure thus making soil easier for plant roots to penetrate and grow.
Manure itself has some amount nutrients left after maturing (but this can vary a lot) so there is some 'feed' value in it too.
This time of the year is better to use manure as mulch..that way soil underneart will stay moist longer and worms will work some of into lower soil levels over period of time..what doesn't get 'worked' you can always turn in when you next time work your soil. Any feeding value will get into plant too as during rain/watering nutrients will be flushed down.
I would not trust manure as the only 'feed' for plants..you don't know if there is all the goodness in there for what plants need for growth or if it is enough. So treat is as soil conditioner.
As for using it straight in the ground this time of the year..YES you can..mulch you potatoes and that's fine..spread it on surface for crops like courgettes/pumpkins/squashes/sweetcorn..and although you are not planting any this time of the year..but when summer arrives plant through it and it will added blood, fish and bone meal and your plants have had super meal for good growth... ;)