10 bags of horse manure - what next?

[Hayley]

Woke up early this morning to take delivery of 10 bags of well rotted horse manure (which turned out to be much larger than I expected).

I was convinced I needed manure to improve the soil but now its here I don't know what to do with it!

My plan was to dig it into my small veg plot with my 4 raised beds. Am I right in thinking I need to do this a couple of months before planting rather than now for winter or would it be best to leave it on top of the soil over winter to dig in over spring?

Many thanks

[rustylady]

I would spread it thickly on vacant beds and leave the worms to do most of the digging for you. When you're ready to plant again you should only need to give the beds a light forking over.

[Bigmallly]

As what RL said but bear in mind if you are growing root veg they may fork. You may wish to leave an area without manure for them.

[Two_Sheds]

I was convinced I needed manure to improve the soil

It does improve soil, but you absolutely don't NEED it. I've never used it & I've been growing allotment veg for 17+ years now


(I use homemade garden compost & green manures)

[Hayley]

Many thanks for all your replies and thank you for the heads up on the root veg

[Feral007]

Make a note to check out the manure tea, and nettle and comfrey teas, and seaweed tea, and weed tea. Much cheaper than buying bags of manure. Can be a bit whiffy, but very good for the growing.

Nothing wrong with manure, I like it in the paddock for the grass. But I'd rather have tea in the garden.