Manure

[Muriel]

I was wondering when is the best time to buy manure.

Muriel

[squashysu]

Hi there

Why would you want to buy it?? Why not contact your local riding stables and go and offer to take some off their hands, just take some strong bags and a fork, they will have plenty available. If all else fails I have a pony and you can come and get some from me lol.

SS

[Norm]

I was wondering when is the best time to buy manure.

Muriel

When you've used up the last lot

[terrier]

Instead of buying manure, use the money to buy a miniature horse, not only will it provide manure twelve months of the year but you will never need to cut your lawn

[JO,JO]

got a free supply of well rotted horse manure on tap.5 minutes walk from the house yipee x

[rustylady]

Whenever you can get it - it's like golddust round here. If you don't want to use it straight away, then stack it and let it carry on rotting till you're ready to use it.

[stv]

Is there a time when the manure is less useful for the garden? i.e Can it be too old and broken down?
I have just picked up what seems to be great stuff, fluffy, almost peat like, but still moist, no smells etc, however no worms. In other areas of the enormous pile you could tell it was still breaking down and there were plenty of worms.
Is there a manure law of diminishing returns!?

Thanks,
Stv

[Norm]

fluffy, almost peat like, but still moist, no smells

Sounds perfect to me

[axj]

I got a few bags of horse manure, to be honest I wish I had not. I grow in a couple of very large window boxes, although the manure is a great fertilizer, it came with all manner of pests which quite honestly out weighed the benefit to my mind.

[terrier]

Is there a time when the manure is less useful for the garden? i.e Can it be too old and broken down?
I have just picked up what seems to be great stuff, fluffy, almost peat like, but still moist, no smells etc, however no worms. In other areas of the enormous pile you could tell it was still breaking down and there were plenty of worms.
Is there a manure law of diminishing returns!?

Thanks,
Stv

Sounds like the worms have done their stuff and moved on. It takes me at least twelve months to get it to that stage. Don't forget it will be slightly on the acidic side, OK for most veg but not for acid hating shrubs.

[Two_Sheds]

I've never bothered with horse manure. (It's too heavy to lift, I have no car.) I didn't tell my plants and they've not noticed that they don't get it.
PS. I use garden compost as an improver and comfrey tea as a liquid feed. Comfrey is more nutritious than pony poo anyway: TeacherNet, A to Z of School Leadership temp - Individual Education Plan (IEP)