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Free Muck!

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percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 3:03 pm Post subject: Free Muck!
I know this is a long shot but if anyone is in the South of Hampshire and would like some free horse manure we have a 18 month-2 year old heap that would like a new home and purpose in life! We have had a few people come and get 10 or 20 bags for their gardens but it has hardly made a dent in it and with four horses regularly topping it up it is a never neding supply! Anyway, let us know! Sarah x

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 4:07 pm Post subject:
Can I jump in too and say if anyone from Essex would like some then please PM me!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 4:10 pm Post subject:
I've got a bit of a compost mountain, but I'll ask if my dad wants any

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 05 10:22 pm Post subject:

On the subject of horse manure, we have a muck heap which has manure taken from our stables so it contains wood shavings. I also have a manure heap on side of the field, which is just droppings collected from the field.

The original muck heap with wood shavings is over two years old in parts. The small heap I have on side of the field is about 8 months old.

How long would you say that these types of manure heaps need to be left before using to be dug into an allotment?

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 1:01 am Post subject:
I dunno hun. Most peeps just want to dig out the black rotten stuff in the middle and leave the rest

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 8:13 am Post subject:

I think it would depend on what you are growing and what your soil is.

I don't wait for the straw & shavings in our chicken compost to rot down completely for our garden because the bulky matter helps retain moisture in our dry chalky soil. I rot it for a few months in summer to help reduce the harshness of the droppings and use it as a mulch.

For some plants like blackcurrents I remember adding our rabbit droppings unrotted around the base of the plant (not touching the stems).

mbeirnes

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 100

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 05 10:43 am Post subject:

I get free muck delivered straight from the field....
In winter when there is nothing growing it goes directly on as a mulch and the worms do the work

In summer I have a pallet construction for storing it.

The wood shavings take about a year to start rotting, the problem is they drain nitrogen from the soil unless the have rotted down.

I also have have a collection point for this. You could use it as paths till it is ready

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 05 4:32 pm Post subject:
Good advice. Thanks for the information.

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