Have just got an allotment which has been fallow for a few years so im told. I have dug it over and laid about 6 inches of fresh horse manure over the surface. My query is do i leave it on the surface overwinter or is it best to dig it in before we get the bad weather? Any help apreciated regards Mick.
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manure, dig in or leave on the surface
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I'm a let the worms do the hard work type of gardener (we have plenty of earthworms here thankfully ) .....S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden porn
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Tests* have shown it's more effective to leave it on top for the worms to pull down into their burrows, like they do in woods
Their burrows naturally aerate the soil. If you dig, you are collapsing & destroying those burrows. Mulching (laying it on top) prevents weeds from germinating and traps moisture in the soil too.
Yep, I'm a non-digger
* no I don't have a link, but they're out there somewhereAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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I'm not a non-digger, but I leave compost and manure on the surface, and let the worms do the hard work.
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It would be even better if you had some winter veg growing THROUGH the mulch!My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)
Diversify & prosper
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Originally posted by delsupserve View Postlaid about 6 inches of fresh horse manure over the surface.Originally posted by Snadger View PostIt would be even better if you had some winter veg growing THROUGH the mulch!Originally posted by delsupserve View PostHi Snadger, What do you suggest i grow through the mulch at this time of the year?All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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ive covered one of my beds at the allotment with a lot of fresh manure(6 wks ago) , i then covered it over with cardboard and some plastic mesh to stop it blowing away will uncover early next year and hit it with the rotovator hopefully it will turn out ok
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Hi SuperDad, My compost bin was full of horse muck and i got offered a load delivered for nothing, being something of a greedy person i couldn;t look a gift horse in the mouth. I am on a new plot that has been fallow for a number of years. The muck is spread over what is planned as the potatoe plot i thought that possibly the sting would have gone out of the muck by March/April? What your opinion? Rgards Mick.
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