Manure in the frost..

[Amandaod]

Quick question! This will be my first winter on the plot, I had planned on manuring it tomorrow, but Scotland has had a small frost today, and I read something online today about being careful covering with manure in the frost incase it keeps the cold in, is this true?

I'm also contemplating covering it after I add the manure with tarpauline, would this be wise or a bad idea now it's gotten cold? Or is it even a good idea to do both?

Sorry, I feel like I need to question everything. That's what I get going straight to allotment and learning on the job

[muddled]

keeping the cold in, I would think, is only an issue if you plan to plant there straight away.

I personally wouldn't bother wth the tarp. It will be blown about all winter and give slugs a good place to hide.

In this bitterly cold spell I think you should just congratulate yourself for being brave enough to put the manure on, then get yourself indoors quick for a nice hot toddy!

[Aberdeenplotter]

If the ground is frozen hard and then you cover it with anything, you will be putting on a layer of insulation. If applied when the ground isn't frozen, your layer of insulation can stop the ground freezing which can be good or bad depending on what you are looking to achieve.

[alldigging]

If it's sunny today (Clear skies precede a frost) then get the ground covered with a tarp today and then remove it tomorrow before you add the muck.

The muck will be frosty cold too but as has been said it doesn't really matter hugely if you're not planting in it straight away - it'll be months before you do so it should be fine.

[Amandaod]

Thank you for all the replies One more question! Would 2.5 tonnes (about 2200kg) of manure be enough to cover 100 square metres of my plot? I am completely useless trying to work this out, I can get it delivered from a farmer and this is what he delivers as standard but I'm unsure if that's way too much / not enough. Maths wasn't my strong point!

Edit to add okay I've since worked it out and realise this is way too much! :P

[Aberdeenplotter]

That is almost a cart load. Should do you a couple of years I would have thought. Remember you wont need muck on the areas where you are growing root crops other than spuds

[muddled]

Do you have any plot neighbours who will go halves with you?

The more you share, the less you pay and the more new friends you make.

[alldigging]

Thank you for all the replies One more question! Would 2.5 tonnes (about 2200kg) of manure be enough to cover 100 square metres of my plot? I am completely useless trying to work this out, I can get it delivered from a farmer and this is what he delivers as standard but I'm unsure if that's way too much / not enough. Maths wasn't my strong point!

Edit to add okay I've since worked it out and realise this is way too much! :P

With a stack to save for next year, yes it's a good amount.

[Amandaod]

Yet another question from me I'm afraid.. turns out it's hard to get good quality manure due to everyone freaking out about the new law which states it needs to come from a council certified place... ? I'd never even heard of it.

Would it be bad just to cover the plot just now with the weed suppression without adding manure? It's clear for the moment of weeds, so I'm not sure if it's worth it but I don't want them all the burst out come spring. Could I cover it now, then come spring time add some soil improver compost over the top?

I didn't think gardening would bring me so much confusion!

[astraman1]

where has that come from ive never heard of manure coming from a council certified place is that in your allotment rules or just something someone has said

[Amandaod]

I hadn't heard of it, then our allotment didn't get its yearly delivery of manure, and when I posted onto a horsey group of my friends someone said there was new laws regarding manure so they wouldnt chance it. I genuinely don't know the ins and outs of it, first I've heard. I'll need to look into it more as I can't find anything about it online but that's a couple of people mentioned it to me.

Just wondered if it was worth me putting plastic over if I don't get manure just now, or if I'm best to leave it? I could get manure from garden centres but it would cost me a fortune for the amount of bags I would need.

[alldigging]

Yet another question from me I'm afraid.. turns out it's hard to get good quality manure due to everyone freaking out about the new law which states it needs to come from a council certified place... ? I'd never even heard of it.

Would it be bad just to cover the plot just now with the weed suppression without adding manure? It's clear for the moment of weeds, so I'm not sure if it's worth it but I don't want them all the burst out come spring. Could I cover it now, then come spring time add some soil improver compost over the top?

I didn't think gardening would bring me so much confusion!

What law?

And add cardboard but that will rot through and weeds will come through again. A very thick layer of muck acts as a kill mulch but that won't stop perennial weeds.

[Amandaod]

I definitely can't find anything online.. perhaps they're having me on. How difficult can it be to find some poo! I'm quite sad dog poo isn't an option as we have it in abundance.

[Aberdeenplotter]

What law?

indeed, what law?

[Aberdeenplotter]

unless of course it's referring to aminopyralid?