Manure advice...

[Likac66]

I have access to free horse manure from 2 sources. Firstly, a friend who has horses says she is happy to bag up her manure and drop it off to me. It will be delivered to me ready bagged but will be fresh.

Secondly I have the option to go to some local stables nearby and bag my own. I'm guessing this will give me the opportunity to try to get some rotted manure if I dig from the bottom of the pile.

Is fresh manure any use to me? Should I take the fresh stuff anyway and make my own pile in a corner to let it rot down to use later? And if I go to get my own from the stables, any advice on how to bag it up (and what in) to prevent leakage and smells in my car!

Thanks for any advice.

[MarkHackwell]

No dont use the fresh manure straight away otherwise you will end up 'burning' your crops as its too fresh. If your going to take the fresh manure leave it in a pile for a while and let it rot more. I would take the rotted manure and use for now and put it in a trailer if possible Dont put it near your carrots though as it will make them split

[Likac66]

I don't have access to a trailer. It will have to go in my car.

[kathycam]

Could use the heat from the fresh manure to do something- heat a polytunnel/grow squash on the top (I guess in containers) heat water (hose pipe through it),hot beds.

Open your windows if you go for the stable stuff! and double bag at least!

[Tripmeup]

Some of the fresh stuff could be added to your compost bin to add heat and speed up the process.....

[Feral007]

As for travelling with it, since it is likely to leak a bit, double bag, but I would put a plastic liner in the boot and then put some cardboard on top of the liner, to soak up any leakage, otherwise it would just run off the plastic into the car anyway. Some shops over here sell boot liners that are like bottom and sides of a box, but you can use a tarp with cardboard, just don't leave itin there too long.
And bicarb soda in the boot afterwards to soak up any smells that remain

[Bigmallly]

What's your friend using to bring the fresh stuff?.........I would offer her petrol money to get the rotted stuff..........

[alldigging]

If you have room then get the fresher stuff delivered and just stack it up.

[KittyColdNose]

Can the fresh stuff be left in sacks to mature? I got two (double bagged) sacks yesterday and don't want to put it on the compost as it's already too acidic. Can some of it go in the totty growing bags or straight into a bed to grow my patty pans?

**Just did a goggle search and found the thread on here I am looking for

[sweetcorn]

How long does it take to be well rotted enough to use?

[SarzWix]

Yes, the fresh stuff can be left in the sacks, if it's fresh now it should be ready to put on as a top dressing/mulch in the winter. If you want to use it for squashes/pumpkins, dig a hole, shove it in and then mound the soil back on top. Plant into the mound. For a hot bed, pile it in a box/cold-frame/deep bed and put soil/compost on top, then a cloche/cold-frame lid over the top.

[Linzy]

I always collect fresh manure in those plastic sacks (i use my old dog food sacks) and leave it in the bags in a corner of the garden for three months. I think the fact they are contain in the sack helps the decompostion as within three months i have ready to use manure. If i where you i would get abit of both. Leave the fresh to rot down abit or sprinkle on a patch of garden your not going to grow in for at least 3 months and get abit of rotted to get on with.