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Have just got an allotment which has been fallow for a few years so im told. I have dug it over and laid about 6 inches of fresh horse manure over the surface. My query is do i leave it on the surface overwinter or is it best to dig it in before we get the bad weather? Any help apreciated regards Mick.
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Two possibilities. One - dig it in. Two - spread it and leave.
I'm a no digger so I'd spread it over the plot and leave others will tell you to dig it in.Last edited by oldie; 25-10-2011, 04:14 PM.History teaches us that history teaches us nothing. - Hegel -
I'm with Oldie on this one. Leave it over the winter for the worms to pull in as much as possible, then in Spring when you want to get planting just give it a quick fork over.Comment
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^me too, because while i like digging sometimes, sometimes it's just not necessary.Comment
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I have no earthworms because of New Zealand flatworm so leaving it on top is a non starter for me. Anyway's I hate getting my boots clarted in muck.Comment
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I'm a let the worms do the hard work type of gardener (we have plenty of earthworms here thankfully ) .....S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden pornComment
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I'm with Bin's ^^ plus it acts as a weed suppressing mulch
He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
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Tests* have shown it's more effective to leave it on top for the worms to pull down into their burrows, like they do in woods
Their burrows naturally aerate the soil. If you dig, you are collapsing & destroying those burrows. Mulching (laying it on top) prevents weeds from germinating and traps moisture in the soil too.
Yep, I'm a non-digger
* no I don't have a link, but they're out there somewhereAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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I'm not a non-digger, but I leave compost and manure on the surface, and let the worms do the hard work.Comment
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It would be even better if you had some winter veg growing THROUGH the mulch!
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)
Diversify & prosper
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Hi Snadger, What do you suggest i grow through the mulch at this time of the year? regards Mick.Comment
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Originally posted by delsupserve View PostOriginally posted by Snadger View PostYou can't grow anything in fresh manure Mick (it will burn plants). If it was well rotted though, you could plant any number of winter crops through it: garlic, peas, broadies, Jap onionsOriginally posted by delsupserve View PostAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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ive covered one of my beds at the allotment with a lot of fresh manure(6 wks ago) , i then covered it over with cardboard and some plastic mesh to stop it blowing away will uncover early next year and hit it with the rotovator hopefully it will turn out okComment
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I tend to spread on top in autumn and cultivate in in Spring. However, I'm a bit worried when you say it is fresh horse manure as it will eat up yr nitrogen. You should let horse manure rot down for at least 6 months before putting on plotComment
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Hi SuperDad, My compost bin was full of horse muck and i got offered a load delivered for nothing, being something of a greedy person i couldn;t look a gift horse in the mouth. I am on a new plot that has been fallow for a number of years. The muck is spread over what is planned as the potatoe plot i thought that possibly the sting would have gone out of the muck by March/April? What your opinion? Rgards Mick.Comment
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