2 Year old Horse Manure advice needed!!

[mbronco27_03]

A few miles from my house, there is a Livery, and they have 2 yo Horse Manure, nicely rotted down, its completely free, and I can have as much as I want, they will even deliver it, so I will give them about £20 to bring it to my house.

I currently have Four Raised beds, each of them are 4m x 4m, so a total combined of 64m2.

How much Horse manure should I need to cover that area, would a tonne be enough, or two much? Advice needed soon. Also to be able to grow on the veggie patch this spring, summer, is it ok to put it on now, or too late in the year already?

Please answer ASAP, as if I can, want to get it delivered on Saturday!!

Thanks in advance for advice!

[sweetiepea]

Take as much as you can get! What you don't use this year can always be used next year - presuming you have space to keep it of course. Personally I wouldn't put it into a root bed this year but the others should be OK (the experts will correct me if I'm wrong). I can't give you a weight guide. I usually cover the top of each bed with a couple of inches of manure then dig it in. When planting potatoes i line the trench with manure, set the seed potatoes on it, cover and off you go.

This isn't much help I'm afraid, but perhaps its a start.

[Jeanied]

It may be worth checking that the horses have not been fed on hay or grass treated with that chemical - aminylopropid or something - so you aren't importing trouble! I seem to remember it all got to be a problem about 2 years ago. Not sure how long it lasts in the system - but last year one of our lottie holders had probs with a bought bag of manure. Can't help with the measurements / quantities either as I deal with small- ish bags in the back of my car!

[Nicos]

It may be worth checking that the horses have not been fed on hay or grass treated with that chemical - aminylopropid or something - so you aren't importing trouble! I seem to remember it all got to be a problem about 2 years ago. Not sure how long it lasts in the system - but last year one of our lottie holders had probs with a bought bag of manure.

Good idea- our delivery is still affected in the middle.
It should be ok by next year apparently.

I've no idea either as to volume...again- I'd get as much as poss and leave it to rot further.
Our best compost ever was 10 years old from a cow barn!!...just like potting compost!