How long to leave horse manure...

[Skotch]

...before it's ready to use?

We have access to a virtually unlimited supply of horse manure courtesy of a friend's farm and stables. MrsS and her friend brought back a couple of trailer loads yesterday and left it in a pile on the allotment. Is it just as easy to spread the un-matured muck over the ground and then dig it in over winter or should we leave it in a big pile and then spread in spring?

[Polly Fouracre]

I'm sure others will disagree but I would put it straight onto the ground now,cover with cardboard etc.and dig in next spring.Except ,of course ,where you plan to put your roots which will not benefit by fresh manure.
Otherwise,pile up,cover and dig in next spring(which ammounts to the same thing,really!!)

[jaykay]

I've ordered some manure from local stables. Lady there said it was ready to use because you could slice cleanly through it with a spade. Not sure if anyone else can advise about how you know manure is well rotted enough to use. Last year I inherited a large heap from the council and left it over winter before digging it into the beds in March.

[rustylady]

Just don't put fresh manure round anything, it burns! If you have beds that will remain empty throughout winter you can spread manure over them and dig in when spring comes. The worms do a pretty good job of pulling bits down so there shouldn't be too much to do. You can also cover the manure dressing with carpet or cardboard if you wish. Otherwise make a pile (similar to a compost heap) and leave it to rot down further before using it.

[PAULW]

I have all year round access to horse manure, I have 8 dalek compost bins which I fill, it will suprise you how many bags or barrow loads you can get into these over the year and the compost that you get at the end of the year is some realy nice stuff.

[terrier]

Hi all, one thing I've found using equipoo is that you don't want to store it in a deep pile otherwise when you come to dig it onto your beds, the first spade depth will look nice and dark and below that it'll be as fresh as when the horse discarded it. I fill up the midden through the winter and in the spring, turn it out to let air get to it, about 18" deep. After about 8 to 10 weeks, it should be very dark and a bit crumbly. I use fresh stuff in the dalek mixed with straw, that rots down very quickly, otherwise, spread it on unused beds to keep weeds down and dig in the spring. Remember that equipoo is very acidic and you may need to adjust the Ph of your soil, depending what your growing in it.

[Flummery]

There is a school of thought that says don't even dig it in - if it's well rotted and crumbly use it as a mulch and let the worms do the digging for you.

[Skotch]

Thanks very much for all your replies - I've already drawn out a plan of what veg will be grown where on the Lottie next year, so I think some beds will get the spread and dig in spring treatment and I will leave a pile to do it's thing in a corner and see what happens next year.

Skotch