[mike86]

Hey everyone, Just after a little advice / review from anyone who has used or uses westlands well rotted farmyard manure,

Im in the process of trying to loosen up and improve the soil on my first plot, the soil is fairly heavy and clumpy, which im guessing means rather clay based and neglected, with patches of young grass here and there. im planning to hoe over the surface and then fork/dig in a soil improver ( westlands, as it was on offer at the local garden centre)

Is this the right way to go? will the westlands turn my lumpy soil into a  more workable / fertile soil or does anyone have any other  magical tips?

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Kleftiwallah]

Many councils who run 'recycling' centres are also providing soil improvers made from the green bin collections.  Some say. . . that it is not as good as made out.  But you could look into it and make up your own mind.

Cheers,   Tony.

[The Golden Heap]

From wht I have experienced yes it will work and help, I bought numerous bags of Westland last year and I had very good results for which was meant to be a poor year and my first with an allotment, give it go

[mumofstig]

yes it will work, but it's an expensive way to buy manure 

[devonbarmygardener]

I use this manure (had a bad experience with a manure delivery a few years ago) and it is the more expensive way to manure but I like it and I have good results each year.

I'm quite lucky as one of the garden centres in Plymouth does a good 3 bag deal on this.

[mike86]

thanks for the advice,  
I managed to pick up 3 x 60l bags for £10 ( so not too bad) but since buying it i've heard mixed reviews.   

Unfortunately im yet to source local manure deliveries, I'll have to ask around the site and at the lottie shop, ive looked into the council soil improver's and heard a few disappointing stories about it so I'm a little reluctant, although its  free for collection about  7 miles drive from home. so maybe give it a go.

its only a small half plot and the majority comprises of raised beds, just need to improve my potato patch and a few other small areas,

[solway cropper]

I bought three bags of Westland FYM last year and it was contaminated with aminopyralid so just be careful what you plant in it!!

I've always been satisfied with their products but that stuff was a disaster.

[BabbyAnn]

I bought three bags of Westland FYM last year and it was contaminated with aminopyralid so just be careful what you plant in it!!

I've always been satisfied with their products but that stuff was a disaster.

that's dreadful    It's one thing getting a pile of manure from a local farmer but quite another from a commercial source. 

[compostqueen]

Have a look around your allotment site for heaps of muck. It's all over the shop at ours    I got a load delivered which I shared with my plot neighbour. 

Good hunting