A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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November 27, 2014 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Belgium
Posts: 186
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horse manure
Is it wise to add fresh horse manure as mulch in my greenhouse?
to prepare the soil for next season... |
November 27, 2014 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E
Posts: 5,041
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Been using it on my no-till raised bed for the last 5 years. As my bed is exposed to the elements and breaks down by planting time I don't know about your situation with your beds being under cover.
Ami
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!' |
November 27, 2014 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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It's a smart idea to test it for herbicide. All you have to do is grow a bean plant in a cup of it. If the leaves are not gnarled, then it's ok.
Dow chemical made a web site about contaminated manure: http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/ |
November 28, 2014 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Belgium
Posts: 186
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Onb another forum, someone says it's better to let it rot for a year before adding it as mulch.
When you use it fresh, a lot of nitrogen an phosphates will go in to the environement. Is that true? |
November 29, 2014 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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It can be true, but if you cover the manure with leaf mulch, (or hay straw grass clippings wood chips etc) it will speed the decomposition process and you'll likely be fine by spring.
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Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; November 29, 2014 at 04:05 PM. |
November 30, 2014 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Belgium
Posts: 186
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Good idea, it's autumn, so there are plenty leafs.
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March 6, 2015 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 11
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Bump
Forgive a newbie question, please. Just built my raised bed boxes but haven't filled them yet with soil or amendments. A friend has offered horse manure from her farm. Should the manure be mixed in at this time of year with my new soil and other amendments or should the manure 'age' and be allowed to breakdown some before use in the beds? Thanks in advance for any guidance.
BytheNbrs |
March 6, 2015 | #8 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 692
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Quote:
There is so much herbicide around, it would be heart breaking to find the plants won't grow. Will entail digging it all out again. |
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