Manure!

jsh99

Hi all,

Have just moved and in the process inherited a large garden with several raised beds and lots of fruit trees - a 'tunnel' of apple treas, plum trees, pear trees, rasberries caged but netting missing, several rhubarbs, goosgogs and artichokes. Plus anything else that I can't see yet!

I have a very ready source of horse manure (two ponies on my land at the end of the garden - the real reason for moving!!) I'm keeping the manure seperate from any shavings as I understand these aren't so good for the soil.

How long do I have to wait before I can use the manure? Someone told me rhubarb will love it 'fresh' but it will burn other things. This resent freeze-thaw weather seems to be breaking it down quite quickly.

Help appriciated.

Zazen999

Until it isn't looking like manure any more!

If it is still 'fragrant' then it is too strong to use on plants.

It breaks down to a nice black material after a while.

I'd mix it in with the shavings, it will all add organic to the soil in the end. I mulch everything with shavings, but my pH is 7.5 so I can afford to add a little acidity to the soil.

Lotus-eater

Yeah I'd mix it with the shavings as well, presumeably the shavings have urine in them as well? If they haven't, putting your own on there will counteract the nitrogen usage they will have breaking down.
I understand that comfrey is the only thing that can take raw poultry manure, so that would take normal horse poo with ease, but I wouldn't put it on anything else.

Well done on the new garden btw, sounds lovely!

jsh99

Thanks. Very excited about the garden - just hope I have time to look after it as well as the ponies! Shame as for last three years been rather neglected but before that was well setup - there is also a brick base greenhouse with watering system and very large grape vine - so would be nice to make some wine later this year - although that might be pushing my knowledge somewhat!!

Shavings will have pee on - although I try to reduce the amount of shavings I use due to cost so both boys are out as much as possible. When they are in at night I have trained them to pee in a bucket when they first come in (natural instict to mark clean bed anyway) which I am them tipping onto the muck heap. Glad to hear this has another benifit!! I had been told by someone who has local allotments collect her muck heap that they did not want her shavings.

I know sounds a silly question but will it take 3 months to be ok - 6 months - a year?

Lotus-eater

I would say at least a year, maybe more with shavings. If you can cover it up, it apparently helps, although I don't do it and neither does anyone I get manure off.

valk_scot

Put a bucketful of manure into the compost bin regularly and mix it in...manure is a great compost accelerator and will help the whole heap, including the manure, break down more rapidly.

The best way to speed up the break down of manure is to keep it in a closed heap...four pallets wired together lined with cardboard and the manure piled in there is idea. Cover with an old bit of carpet to keep the heat in. The hotter a heap gets the faster it will break down. Turn it once it has stopped feeling hot (stick a metal rod into the middle for ten minutes, pull out and test for hotness) and it should heat up again. As to how long it takes...well, faster in summer, slower in winter. But as a rule of thumb the pile you're building now should be ready for your winter digging.

If you want to use up some of your fresh manure sooner, thought about making a good old fashioned hot bed?

jsh99

Mmmm interesting! I get a barrow load off the field a day - I'm gonna end up with quite a large pile before I can use it. :eek:I've got a 'muck heap' area with three sides in breeze blocks which is quite large. I've got a tarp I can cover it with - although it 'steams' quite a bit on it's own!!

Next summer I'll have gret veg - but not for this year by the sound of it. I think initially the hot box is a bit beyond my 'learner' capacity.

Thanks everyone.

RAS

You could make a hotbed - fresh manure topped with soil which grows early crops and tender crops.

Pennylane

The manure needs to be well rotted. We have horses and get a couple of BIG barrow loads a day. We have a couple of muck heaps in the field. Our manure is great because it is pure - no straw or shavings mixed in. When its rotted down well there is no smell at all and it does the garden no end of good.

My mother used it on her garden last year (for the first time ever) and could not believe how wonderful all her flowers were. She had a climbing rose that never amounted to much and it was fantastic and groaning with the weight of blooms!:)

We let various people come and help themselves for free providing they bring their own bags and are prepared to DIY. Many of these have allotments and in return we sometimes get some beans or spuds or wine.

I'd just keep building up your poo pile and remember to take the stuff from the bottom when you feel it's ready. I'd say minimum 6 months. Most of ours must be 1-2 years old now.

oldsam

Do you have access to to straw or shredded paper this can be added in layers also grass mowings to a heap - How about a Hot Bed this is an old idea where a heap of horse dung is topped with soil plants like salads and radish are grown - After you finished with it add to the soil in the garden . A COUPLE OF MILLION RED WORMS INTO THE BARGAIN WORKING FOR YOU !

Kazipoo

We get fresh stuff from some neighbours who have horses. The hubby takes a dishcloth and places manure inside then sews it back up with string, then with string still attached, adds it to our rainwater barrel, which he then uses to water the garden with, the plants love it!