[Veggy Addict]

I live in Bristol and on our council allotments info page we have been told about the risk of contaminated horse manure (due to a herbycide used on the crops that have been  used as feed/bedding).  As i don't want to risk ruining everything in my first year - what else could i use to improve the soil structure?  It seems heavy - possibly clay.

Any advice greatfully received!

[peapod]

Dig in leaf mulch, old compost from growbags,pots etc any home-made compost you may have, and new compost or top soil if your budget can stretch to it

[Paul Plots]

Others might disagree but I make use of bags and bags of lawn mowings.... with some added allotment vegetable waste with a few bags of shredded paper. I've not added manure for years.

A friend of the family (retired?) runs a lawn-mowing service and is only too happy to take the grass cuttings and plonk them in a very large compost bin on my plot.

Most of the compost is dug in, during the winter, once it has had a chance to decompose  but some mowings are added to the surface as a mulch during the growing season.

If you have neighbours willing to pass on bags of grass cuttings it would get your compst bin/s started and be fine for lightening clay soil.

I also add pelleted chicken manure straight into the soil (cleanish and sold in tubs) to give an extra boost to hungry crops.

I had no porblems with the dodgy farm-yard manure as I use none. 

 

[DD.]

Can't see anything to disagree with there!

[celjaci]

Most councils sell composted green waste by the bag and in bulk. Should be reasonably cheap and great stuff for improving soil structure - it's also sterile so you won't be introducing loads of weeds as can happen with manure.

Spent mushroom compost can also be very good value but tends to contain a lot of lime ( and pesticide residues )

[Veggy Addict]

Thanks for all those comments. 
Sometimes a bit of reassurance and knowledge from people who know what they're talking about is all I need!!

[Bombers]

My garden beds get mostly home made compost/spent compost, and Leaf mulch. But I have purchased some 75Ltr bags of 'Organic'   Manure before now. They dont work out too expensive either. (Bowt £11 for 5 bags last time I looked) Would anyone know if these would be safe to use?

[DD.]

IF they are truely organic, they shouldn't contain herbicides.

[whippersnapper]

how about doing the tomato plant test? if ok, use the maunre, if not seek alternatives.

[peapod]

Id also ask about to see if anyone knows a weedkiller free manure source, I found one near me on this very forum!

[woodburner]

It's too late for improving the soil for this year's crops but green manures can improve the soil in many ways. Not only do they add organic matter to the soil, either directly by digging in or via the compost heap, but also improve soil structure by the action of the roots. The leguminous green manures also increase nitrogen levels with their roots, either directly or via the compost heap. They can also be used to reduce weather leeching either as a 'catch crop' or over winter, rather than leaving the soil open to the rain.

[argaric]

I have switched to compost this season as the manure we get delivered is the biggest source of weeds I have ever seen. Always get bindweed and ground elder.
I make a lot at home and supplement with some bought from Aldi( £2.33 for 40L). I use this in small trenchs or holes for each seed type I am planting and then dig the whole lot in at the end of the season and grow a green manure over winter.

Regards,
  Aragric

[daveylamp]

spent hops  is good for soil improvement worked for me on heavy clay.
also lawn cuttings as a mulch and worked in with hoe
to help lawn cuttings in compost bin shredded paper mixed with them.
dave.