"Eliezer" wrote in message
om...
I just put in some 350 bulbs, and the gardeners spread what smells
like horse manure all over the place. Van Engelen warns against using
'hot manure,' specifically horse manure. What is the problem, and
what is going to happen to my bulbs? Thanks.

Are the bulbs planted a correct distance under ground and the manure used as
a mulch on top? If so, you don't really need to worry - by the time the
bulbs appear in spring, the manure should be well composted. If the manure
or whatever was incorporated into the area prior to planting, you could have
problems with water retention, rot and nitrogen burn on the roots.

Are you sure your gardeners used manure? I'd be willing to bet it is more
likely to be some form of compost (with perhaps manure as a major
ingredient) that is not fully aged, hence the aroma. Make sure in the future
they use fully aged and composted manure.

FWIW, the botanical garden nearby mulches each fall with 6-8 inches of
composted cow manure - you should see the bulbs in spring. A very impressive
showing in the thousands!

pam - gardengal