COMPOST

[Gloria]

HELP - I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN WELL ROTTED HORSE MANURE AND CATTLE MANURE FOR MY VEGETABLE GARDEN. WHICH DO I HAVE?
I HAVE BEEN TOLD HORSE MANURE IS TOO RICH FOR VEGATABLES IS THIS CORRECT?
I HAVE IN THE PAST USED MY OWN WELL ROTTED COMPOST FROM MY OWN COMPOST BINS BUT THIS YEAR I HAVE EXTENDED MY VEGETABLE PLOT AND I NEED EXTRA.

[Chantal]

Ow, no need to shout!

I've used both on mine and everything grows. You're lucky to be offered such great stuff. Grab what you can of both.

[John]

Hello Gloria
If its free I would get as much as possible and spread it around everywhere!!! Then if you still finish up with too much it could always be stacked and used later. Its difficult to apply too much of this stuff to the soil provided that you get it well dug in. I've seen figures like 10lb per sq yard suggested for producing any real improvement in soil organic matter - quite a lot if you think about it!
Also if its well-rotted, ie 'old', I doubt that it is too rich in nutrients.

John

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Gloria, as John said as long as it's well rotted they are both suitable.
The only thing i will suggest is, if your soil is a heavy clay type, i would choose the horse manure, if it's light sandy soil choose the cow manure, but if it's somewhere in between you could use either.
You never can have to much manure or compost.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[jopsy]

if its free just say 'yes!'

[Zena]

Time for another of my stupid questions.

does manure hve to be rotted or can you use fresh? i know several "horsey" types and could probably get some,but guess it would probably be fairly fresh.

[Weed]

Leave it to mature Zena... I tried to grow some stuff too soon after application this year to my cost. This year I will be applying animal manure in selected areas during the next couple of months

Lesson well and truly learnt

[richard p]

you can spread fresh stuff now on bare soil, let the worms pull it in overwinter, or dig it in if you've nothing better to do, and it will be fine for planting up in the spring.

[Zena]

That's what i was planning Richard. I think i'll start sweet talking some of the horse owners at work!