|
Unrotted Manure
I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to
rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Thanks. |
Unrotted Manure
"Jane" wrote in message ... I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Thanks. Presumably it benefits from any heat being generated internally in the heap. Spreading it on the surface will dissapate any heat and slow down the decomposition process. michael adams .... |
Unrotted Manure
"michael adams" wrote in message ... : : "Jane" wrote in message : ... : : I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to : rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds : are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil : now : and let it rot in situ? : : Thanks. : : Presumably it benefits from any heat being generated internally in the : heap. Spreading it on the surface will dissapate any heat and slow down the : decomposition process. : : : michael adams : : ... On the other hand you are duplicating the way nature would work |
Unrotted Manure
"Jane" wrote in message ... I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? There's probably a good chance that it will reduce the nitrogen, introduce fungus and you'd be surprised at how many seeds might pass through the gut of a horse then germinate: then there are other nasties!. I would not do it. I advise looking around for some free pallets. Four of those - even tied together with a plastic cord - would make an adequate and well ventilated compost box for a few months. I hope there's some straw in the manure to assist ventilation. It's as well to cover the box with a large plastic bag cut open and weighted down with a shovel or two of earth. Mind you, when using it look out for the slow worms it might have attracted and if you see an adder, do not kill it, it will scarper quick enough. Lionel |
Unrotted Manure
"Robert" wrote in message ... "michael adams" wrote in message ... : : "Jane" wrote in message : ... : : I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to : rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds : are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil : now : and let it rot in situ? : : Thanks. : : Presumably it benefits from any heat being generated internally in the : heap. Spreading it on the surface will dissapate any heat and slow down the : decomposition process. : : : michael adams : : ... On the other hand you are duplicating the way nature would work .... But nature doesn't usually start off with a blank canvas each season. Grazing animals don't usually kill off the vegetation on which they feed. Rather, their grazing actually stimulates it into further growth in many instances. michael adams .... |
Unrotted Manure
"Jane" wrote in message ... I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Leave it in the pile til spring - bury it deep then just below root depth before planting veg etc. Scattering it now would be a waste. Pete www.thecanalshop.com |
Unrotted Manure
Jane wrote:
I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Thanks. Horse manure will heat up in a heap. Cow manure is cold, hence no need to pile it up. |
Unrotted Manure
"sam" wrote in message ... Jane wrote: I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Thanks. Horse manure will heat up in a heap. Cow manure is cold, hence no need to pile it up. IIRR cow manure is usually mixed-in with straw or similar bedding materials when used as a compost. In its raw state it's otherwise too liquid to handle, never mind pile up, and is mixed with water to form slurry which is sprayed directly on the fields from tanks. Presumably it's the straw content which mainly heats up. michael adams .... |
Unrotted Manure
"Jane" wrote in message
I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Yes, but put some form of mulch on top of it. I do this every winter on at least one of my veg beds. I use horse manure fresh on the flower beds in summer and never let it rot first as I consider it a waste of time. I get get some weeds from it but I'd get them anyway. The only manure I don't use fresh is hen manure but horse, cow and sheep are all good straight on any beds covered with a mulch. |
Unrotted Manure
The only manure I don't use fresh is hen manure but horse, cow and sheep are all good straight on any beds covered with a mulch. If wood shavings and sawdust have been used as bedding, it must be rotted first. P.S. I would not like to live next to you if you use pig's manure straight from the butt!!! Lionel |
Unrotted Manure
"Jane" wrote in message ... I have a pile of fresh manure for my allotment. I know the manure has to rot down in a heap for 6 months to a year before use, however, if the beds are empty of all crops until spring can I spread the manure on the soil now and let it rot in situ? Thanks. I reckon you can Jane. Composting it in a pile or compost bin will maybe destroy some weeds if it gets hot enough and speed up decay into a humus. Spreading it on the beds is ok however, it will break down. The point about leaching nutrients out is a point though you run that risk in a composting system open to the elements as well. The suggestion to mulch over it is sound, I use old felt carpet underlay. Weeds will sprout from horse poop, felt underlay allows some moisture to get in to the poop and germinate seeds but starves them of light. If you want to keep rain off the poop use plastic. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way, just different problems and solutions with each. If the poop is mixed with a lot of wood chips and you are worried about them not breaking down, try mixing in some grass clippings or used coffee grounds. That will introduce more nitrogen. As a compromise, why not pile it up on the beds you want to spread it on, cover it there and leave it to break down. When you want to spread it simply rake it out from the pile across the bed. You get to rot it down in situ but can get a good heat through it, protect it from the elements somewhat and kill any weeds that do germinate through lack of light. rob |
Unrotted Manure
"The Invalid" wrote On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:10:19 GMT, "Lionel" lionel wrote: Mind you, when using it look out for the slow worms it might have attracted and if you see an adder, do not kill it, it will scarper quick enough. I doubt anyone other than those in the South West will find an Adder No idea if people come across them in gardens here, but we certainly have adders on various areas of heathland in E Anglia. -- Sue |
Unrotted Manure
In reply to Sue ) who wrote this in
ws.net, I, Marvo, say : "The Invalid" wrote On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:10:19 GMT, "Lionel" lionel wrote: Mind you, when using it look out for the slow worms it might have attracted and if you see an adder, do not kill it, it will scarper quick enough. I doubt anyone other than those in the South West will find an Adder No idea if people come across them in gardens here, but we certainly have adders on various areas of heathland in E Anglia. True, I was bitten (if that's the word) by one when I lived in Hollesley (nr Woodbridge). Didn't have hurt. |
Unrotted Manure
On 7/9/06 12:29, in article
ws.net, "Sue" wrote: "The Invalid" wrote On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:10:19 GMT, "Lionel" lionel wrote: Mind you, when using it look out for the slow worms it might have attracted and if you see an adder, do not kill it, it will scarper quick enough. I doubt anyone other than those in the South West will find an Adder No idea if people come across them in gardens here, but we certainly have adders on various areas of heathland in E Anglia. And they're seen in the New Forest, too, I think. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:53 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter