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.

"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

....

"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

"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

"Robert" wrote in message
news

"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

....

"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

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.

"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

....

"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.

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

"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

"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

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.

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/