manure

hi to all,
my soil is quite heavy, i would like to add some manure to improve the structure of the soil, which manure is the best as i am able to get hold of any kind , and could i put it down now ,
thanks

 

Would I be right in assuming that your soil in North Wales is acidic? If so you might want to add lime as well. Manure it now and if lime is needed, spread that in the spring. If you lime now, it will all be leached away before next year.

I like well rotted stable manure. Full of goodies and the straw breaks down slower and adds texture and bulk. Pig manure is powerful and pongs - bit too strong until well weathered. Good garden compost is great and you can often buy it if you have't had time to make your own. Local Authority re-cycling centres often sell it. Pelleted chicken manure is excellent, but needs some bulky stuff as well to improve soil texture.

Others here will have their favourites.

 

A few more details about your unimproved soil and what you might wish to do with the improved soil would help us give you the most accurate answer with respect to your circumstances.

 

Hi arwyn.

You don't say wether or not your manure is for flower boarders or veg patch. if it is for a veg patch be carefull of what you intend plant into it as some veg don,t like there feet in manure ie onions. Pelleted chicken manure is excellent feed for shrubs, hedges and trees,but tends to make herbaceous boarders leggy in growth. My personal favorite manure is spent mushroom compost which dose contain some levels of lime if you were to apply this at this time of year I would advise to leave lying on the top of your turned over soil.Hope this helps.

Cheers Weed puller

 

Hi Arwyn, Sounds like you might have some clay in your soil. In early Spring I forked some composted bark into my borders.It's fine and crumbly and breaks down realy quick. Try adding it with your manure, cos the dryness of the bark will help with the wet clay. Fork the clay over to let the frost break it down over Winter. I got the composted bark fromfor a tenner)Hope that helps Lou S

 

Oops, Need to add to that message.The composted bark came from my local family run garden centre. I'm still a novice at computing. Lou S