"Phil L" wrote in message
...
I have access to an unlimited supply of well rotted horse dung, a local
farmer who has stables has said I can take as much as I want.
I'm a bit wary, as I've read on here that it will probably contain all
kinds
of seeds etc..my questions are these:
Is there any way of de-seeding it prior to use - any storage or treatments
I
can give it?
I can get the stuff from the botom of the pile, which has been there for
years, will this make any difference?...obviously I don't want to create
work...is it suitable for all types of plants? - flowers? veg? hanging
baskets?
It contains a lot of wood shavings which was the horses' bedding, will
this
do any harm? - it has rotted down along with the dung.


TIA


I know a lot of people who will be envious of you having this supply
available (free I assume) . I am in the same position, given there are
various stables etc nearby, and also because I happen to own a tipper. OK, I
own it for other reasons, but I get a *HUGE* pile of manure in it, and when
I do I trundle slowly through town with it, trying to stop at every traffic
light and pedestrian crossing, just to amuse the locals ;-)) Around here its
free if you shovel it yourself, you pay if you get the ready filled bags,
which seems fair enough.

I wouldn't worry about weeds because you'll have weeds whatever you do.
Birds drop them in, the seeds blow in, they come under the fence from next
door etc. You can pick out the worst bits, but you'll never get it all. And
you'll always get quantities of shavings or straw from the bedding, don't
worry about it. Even if it has no fertilising value it will add humus to the
soil.

If it's possible I would put the well rotted stuff on your beds this autumn,
and keep the rest for next year when it will also be rotted down, at least
more than it is now. You may well find that it is quite hot in places, this
is due to the bacterial action, and is a good thing. It probably won't stay
hot after you shovel it though, even if you pile it up, because you will
have let oxygen in and the action breaks down. Still good stuff though, go
for it.

Steve