manure

[Spunky]

Hello all, ive got the chance to get hold of some manure for free, will it keep for spring? Sorry stupid question time and why does it have to rot down and how long does that take ?

[rustylady]

Fresh manure is not good for plants because it will burn them.

That's why we stack it to let it rot down. It also makes it much easier to handle.

I filled a dalek with fresh horse poo mixed with strawy bedding today and will leave it over winter to rot down before spreading it in Spring.

[mothhawk]

As RL says, fresh manure will burn your plants - literally - as the bacteria in manure decompose it, they give off heat as a by-product - that's why you see muck heaps steaming in the winter (they steam in summer too, but the cold winter air makes it more visible). When I worked with horses I found the best way to warm my feet in winter when they were icy cold in wellies was to go and stand on top of the muck heap and shuffle about a bit - soon had cozy toes

Also, leaving it to rot down for 4 - 6 months will enable any residual vermifuges that may be in it (horses and cows are wormed regularly) to leach out or decompose, which means it won't kill your garden worms when you use it.

Pile up your manure, and by spring it will be lovely black crumbly compost. lucky you