Horse poo

Happy new year from wheelchair heaven

Have read loads about what I can and should do with this great supply of horse poo.

I receive the poo picked from a field. it has no hay straw or wood chippings. it is pure poo with little urine and DOES not smell.

|How long must I wait/compost before using it as a mulch around my trees or as soil enhancer on my boggy clay beds ?

Thanks for any help

 

Hi MOL. (MOL, LOL. Get's very confusing after a litre of martini.)

Just well rotted is the usual. I would personally mix some organic material with it (straw, hay etc.) then I would let it sit outside to steam for at least next summer. If you use it too early it will just burn your roots. (I think that's the nitrates but some one like PeterS or Strongy who do really scientific stuff will be more exact no doubt.)

Also no doubt you will be inundated with a debate on this. Being a try it and see type of gardener, I retire from that now. :D

 

Welcome and a Happy New Year to you too, MOL.

I don't know how long you must wait until you can use the pure horse poo, but wait a bit longer and someone with the necessary info will be along soon.

 

One thing I forgot to mention MOL is that if you put some in the bottom of an old dust-bin and top it up with rain water you can use it for general use fairly quickly as a liquid manure. It's great. And that is from experience.

Also mix some peat with your clay.

 

Hi MOL. Thanks for the plug John - but I would really call myself a dabbler. However I haven't been dabbling in fresh horse poo recently!

My gut feeling is that you need to keep it 6 months to a year. I am not sure of the exact mechanism, but I have always heard that fresh manure can hurt plants. I would be inclined to mix it with other stuff, like cut vegitation - ie to use it a component of home made compost - just store in a black bin bag - watered and with holes. I always used to think that horse manure was a fertiliser, and its true that the urine in it is, but after a year of maturing most of the urine has been washed out, consequently horse manure is really regarded as a soil conditioner. I have also read that home made compost is just as effective as manure. One is organic matter that has decomposed inside a horse and the other is the same stuff that has decomposed outside.

I am sure John is right about using it as a liquid manure. But he forgot to add that you could leave out the manure and just pee in the dustbin and add water - it would do the same job. :D

 

Hi MOL welcome to our little old forum I'm sure you will get plenty of advice whether you want it or not....only joking :D

I'm sure you will enjoy our gardening banter and join in with the lovely folk on here, there's always someone on you help you out.Helen.xxx.

Peter are you telling us what you get upto on a warm summer's night after you have had a drink or two in the garden and don't feel inclined to go indoors? :D
Helen.xxx.

 

~~Hi fellow gardeners

That was fab....amazing no of prompt replies.

Thanks very much for all your help. Expect more inane questions.

I have a 3 sq m raised bed on which to enthuse about. The reaming 3 acres is done under my guidance, by someone else.

I love gardening but i need to remind myself that if i hadnt had the accident, I wouldnt be here and thus i wouldnt have this great garden to get frustrated about !!.

Stroll on the Spring

 

Helen - you should know me - I deal in pure science. I wouldn't dream of making any sort of personal contribution to the art of compost making. :D

The principle is well recorded in the literature!

 

Yes Pete is correct in saying it should be left for at least 6 months before using.in its present state its too rich in nutrients and tend to have weed seeds that will germinate. if its mixed with shavings it takes longer to breakdown so its best to mix it with straw which is quicker to bereakdown.On the other hand it can be used to build a hot compost heap to kill all the weeds in it.

 

If a reasnable quantity i would store it under a tarp or in an old one ton builders bag for the season before using. Alternativly break it down by layering it in a compost heap.

 

Im not sure you have all understood what the stuff is.

I receive the poo picked from a field. It has no hay straw or wood chippings. It is pure poo with little urine and DOES not smell. It has been no-where near a stable, hay or wood chippings.

In a few weeks it is a dense mass of non smelling goodness. Surely I dont need to wait 6 months to use this ?

 

Hi MOL, I often pick up horse muck off the road,there are horses everywhere around here!
I suspend some in water buts for liquid feed and also spread it around as a mulch straight away. I haven't seen any ill effects on my borders and it keeps stray cats away too. A shovel or so in the compost bins helps warm up things a little and seems to be fine in the finished product.
I don't do veg any more and I never used the stuff then so I'm not aware of the effects on them.

 

My advice is to wait until the horse has done it!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Or you could be over zealous and when you see a horse follow behind it with a bucket and spade! :D Helen.xxx.

 

That could give the horse a bit of a complex, Helen. :D