I have just been given 2 tonne of cow muck that's been rotting down for just
3 months. My back garden consists of nothing but grass. We want to put some
large borders in and keep just a small area of grass. Do I dig the muck in,
place it on top of the newly dug out borders, or leave it to rot down. The
soil isn't brilliant and has never been fed or had plants in for 4 years
although there are plenty of worms in it. I would say it was a little clay
if anything, we live near the Quantocks in Somerset and the soil is reddish
in colour not the normal brown stuff.

Thanks for the advice
Simon

"..........I have just been given 2 tonne of cow muck that's been rotting
down for just 3 months ........"

Any fresher and the cows could have delivered it personally.

I would be inclined to put it into a heap and leave it till the Autumn to
rot down, then spread it on the borders and let the worms work on it over
the winter

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

In article , Simon
writes

I would say it was a little clay
if anything, we live near the Quantocks in Somerset and the soil is reddish
in colour not the normal brown stuff.

To see whether it is clay, take a small piece and roll it into a ball
between your fingers. If you can make a 'marble' out of it, then you
have clay - a lot of clay if you can make it into a worm. If it
crumbles, then it is not clay.

Be pleased if you have clay - clay + humus = loam, very fertile.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Simon" wrote in message
...
I have just been given 2 tonne of cow muck that's been rotting down for
just
3 months. My back garden consists of nothing but grass. We want to put
some
large borders in and keep just a small area of grass. Do I dig the muck
in,
place it on top of the newly dug out borders, or leave it to rot down. The
soil isn't brilliant and has never been fed or had plants in for 4 years
although there are plenty of worms in it. I would say it was a little clay
if anything, we live near the Quantocks in Somerset and the soil is
reddish
in colour not the normal brown stuff.

Thanks for the advice
Simon



You could always dig a large hole, bury some of the manure, with anything
else compostable, and then stick a layer of soil on top, makes for a lovely
hotbed, and you can grow all sorts of nice things on top of that. Melons,
tomatos, cucumbers, and monster marrows/pumpkins etc.

Duncan

"Simon" wrote in message
...
I have just been given 2 tonne of cow muck that's been rotting down for
just
3 months. My back garden consists of nothing but grass. We want to put
some
large borders in and keep just a small area of grass. Do I dig the muck
in,
place it on top of the newly dug out borders, or leave it to rot down. The
soil isn't brilliant and has never been fed or had plants in for 4 years
although there are plenty of worms in it. I would say it was a little clay
if anything, we live near the Quantocks in Somerset and the soil is
reddish
in colour not the normal brown stuff.

Thanks for the advice
Simon



You could always dig a large hole, bury some of the manure, with anything
else compostable, and then stick a layer of soil on top, makes for a lovely
hotbed, and you can grow all sorts of nice things on top of that. Melons,
tomatos, cucumbers, and monster marrows/pumpkins etc.

Duncan

"Simon" wrote in message
...
I have just been given 2 tonne of cow muck that's been rotting down for
just
3 months. My back garden consists of nothing but grass. We want to put
some
large borders in and keep just a small area of grass. Do I dig the muck
in,
place it on top of the newly dug out borders, or leave it to rot down. The
soil isn't brilliant and has never been fed or had plants in for 4 years
although there are plenty of worms in it. I would say it was a little clay
if anything, we live near the Quantocks in Somerset and the soil is
reddish
in colour not the normal brown stuff.

Thanks for the advice
Simon



You could always dig a large hole, bury some of the manure, with anything
else compostable, and then stick a layer of soil on top, makes for a lovely
hotbed, and you can grow all sorts of nice things on top of that. Melons,
tomatos, cucumbers, and monster marrows/pumpkins etc.

Duncan