"0tterbot" wrote in message
...
hello,
bought a trailer load of horse manure from teh stables, but sadly it
contains sawdust (rather than straw - not that i blame them when comparing
prices of the two things).

i'm concerned there is so much sawdust in there that mulching with it atm
is not a good idea - having read that the sawdust will break down quite
slowly, using up all the nitrogen in the process. it looks to be up to
about 50%(??) sawdust although it is hard to tell. it's old & hot &
breaking down, but you can still see sawdust, iyswim.

how long would you wait until using it? i put a very little over the
asparagus (which i mulch constantly, having put the plants in too
shallowly in the first place), & mulched some empty beds with it (going to
use the beds for potatoes in a month or two) but that is all.

any thoughts? ta!
kylie



Sawdust isn't such a bad thing unless it was from treated pine and then I
would be avoiding it. Also for horse manure as mulch make sure the horses
haven't been drenched for worms lately as it will knock off earthworms. Also
avoid manure from racehorses as they are feed a lot of oats and it comes up
everywhere.

The fresh smell of horse manure isn't such a pleasant thing either.