Can manure be too old?

[minipop]

Hi all, hope someone can help....

I'm wanting to spread some manure on the lottie this winter in prep for next season and saw an ad in the local paper for free manure - 10 yrs old!
I know its supposed to be well rotted but is there anything beneficial left in it after that amount of time? Can't seem to find anything relevant via popular tinterweb search engine

Ta very much

Kerry

[Capsid]

Even if there is not much in the way of nutrients (unlikely), it will still be a useful soil conditioner and add that very valuable humus to your plot.

[bobleponge]

Well it wont do it any harm I wouldnt have thought. I agree with Capsid on the soil conditioner and will also retain water so useful as a mulch.

[terrier]

Bag it up and sell it to B&Q, it'll still be better than the cheap stuff they sell or else tell me where it is, I'd love some 10 year old manure for my garden.

[minipop]

Terrier: St. Austell in the 'Wall of Corn' - reckon that might be a little bit far just to get some sh-poo!

Thanks grapes!

[Two_Sheds]

Of course it's still useful ... think how old peat is

* goes off to Google

[minipop]

Very old, i'm sure. But the nutrient content of peat is very low and therefore is used as a soil structure improver rather than for increasing fertility of the soil...
And I'd rather achieve both in 1 go rather than having to add 2 lots of stuff to get the desired result.

[Snadger]

When adding well rotted manure (as yours will be) the main thing you are doing is improving the soil structure. You are getting very few nutrients. 3, 4 or 5 year old manure has very few nutrients either but is really good for the soil.



If I had the chance of it I would jump at it. It will be like peat and could probably be used neat as a potting compost anyway.

Just add BFB in spring at a handful to the square yard on top of it and watch your veg grow!

[Two_Sheds]

the nutrient content of peat is very low

Comfrey, surprisingly, has more nutrients than manure (esp potash, for fruiting plants).
As Snadger says, manure is best for improving soil structure. For fertiliser, you'd need to tailor it for specific crops, ie nitrogen for leafy crops (from something like chicken pellets); potash (comfrey, Tomorite) for fruiting veg.

Blood, fish and bone is a good slow-release fertiliser.

[pabloshs]

With the rising cost of heating bills dont forget dried manure can be used as an alternative to coal and its also ecologically friendly

[terrier]

I tried pressing equipoo into blocks and drying them for burning.They burnt very quickly with little heat and loads of smoke, so not a good idea. When I get time I'm going to try mixing it with sawdust / wood shavings and shredded newspaper and see if that works any better, you never know, I might be able to sell it as I can't even give the stuff away to would be gardeners, they'd all rather buy it ready bagged from garden centres. Anyone in NW Wales want any 'oss muck?

[pabloshs]

Terrier have you tried the local councils for taking your horse muck? You know what the local councils are like for putting flowers during the holiday season only! they may be happy to take it from you
Actually as looking on your website your around the heartland of Gwynedd you may find an interest in oss muck from outdoor bound and survivalist types who use it in stoves,Plas y Brenin maybe?