[Thompson24]

Hi guys

Part of my new site has never been used for years and the weeds where over 5ft tall.  Also there was a problem with water on the site and has had a lot of water standing on it most of the winter. 

Someone suggested putting lime into the soil to sweeten in.  What does this mean?

Also when adding manure does it matter if it has straw in.  I can get as much cow, horse or sheep manure as possible but it would be relativily fresh and contains some straw bedding?

[aelf]

i would grab all the fresh manure (including straw) you can and stack it for the rest of the year, then it will be ready to use next year. In the meantime, lime will help to reduce the acidity of your soil (probably quite high if standing water is an issue). Most veg prefers a neutral (pH 7) or slightly higher soil, ie a slightly alkaline soil. Acid is anything below pH 7. You can get kits to test this.

If your plot is under water during wet periods then best get the drainage sorted. Double digging and manure may help, or a drainage ditch to clear away the run off.

[Kristen]

Raised beds might help with areas of poor drainage.

[Yorkie]

Fresh manure will use nitrogen from the soil as it rots down, hence not applying it until well rotted - i.e. stack it up for several months as aelf suggested.

Lime and manure will counteract each other for reasons related to chemistry, so don't apply them close together.