The well rotted stuff is the stuff that you want. The 'active' ingredients
have rotted out and been decomposed to less harmful stuff by bacteria and
fungi. This is what your plants want. The new dung is liable to 'burn' any
plant material, and is best left to continue rotting on the compost heap -
it's an excellent accelerator for a new compost heap. The black stuff
sounds just right. Use it in your baskets and everywhere else.

Davy M.

"Phil L" wrote in message
.uk...
I have just been and got three large sacks of horse manure from the farm
(there is a plentiful and free supply!)...anyway, two of the bags it's
only
partially rotted - there is a little bit of fresh stuff in it. the last
bag
was filled with the stuff from the bottom and it had been there for
decades!
This bag has no visible straw, bedding, 'balls' of manure or any differing
colours, it is just pure black and clean - no roots or any other visible
'impurities', with the appearance of expensive compost!
I intend to spread some on the flowerbeds now while I'm digging them over
and to allow the impending frost to do it's thing, my idea is to use the
partially rotted manure in the beds but...
My question is this; can i use some of it for my hanging baskets and other
planters in May or is it too rich? - I've heard it will burn the young
plants? - will it not burn the seedlings in the beds if this is the case?
Is there a difference in the extremely well rotted stuff and the newer
stuff?


TIA

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http://www.blueyonder256k.myby.co.uk/