[mumsflowerpot]

Having collected loads of manure over the weekend we are in dispute at our house whether to dig it in or lay it on the surface.

The manure is well rotted, approx 10 years old.

What do people think?

Thanks,
Chris

 :?

[muntjac]

single spit trench diog it in without doubt
. see trench dig in the search facility . i would be doing it straight away if it was mine    

[Spinning Fishwife]

Depends on what kind of growing system you use. Raised beds or row/field?

 I have raised beds and use a no dig system so digging manure in is a no-no. What I do is to spread a thick layer on the beds (not all of them, depends on amount of manure and rotation) then cover the whole lot up for the winter. The worms pull the manure down into the soil for me. (I do the same with leaves or bin compost.)

If you don't have beds and were thinking about making some, now is the time. Double dig them. Or if you have an established row/field system then single dig it in as muntjac suggests.

[Trillium]

I have raised beds but not contained in wood. Mine are just raised mounds of soil. And yes, I'd dig mine in or there'd be manure liquid runoff problems to deal with come spring. If you dig it in now, the worms can have a chance to do their thing and the soil will be much nicer come spring.  

[Spinning Fishwife]

Yup, you're right Trillium, you need flat beds with some sort of edging for the no-dig manure trick to work.

[mumsflowerpot]

Looks like i've lost the argument - the concensus seems to be to dig in.

We have a combination of wooden edged raised beds and normal beds, so I guess even if we leave it on the surface of the raised beds we should cover it.

Thanks for the advice.

Chris.

[muntjac]

ok here goes . when you dump manure on the surface ,its a mulch for suppressing weeeds and ok the worms drag it down ... but not in the manner we want it to . worms can only drag so much down and consume it ....... you are going to be left with clumps of it on the surface when you come to sow or plant .dig it in on the beds or plots then if you want you can do the no dig thing another thing that in my opinion somebody who is lasy came up with . farmers have been digging the soil for thousands of years and it werks for them so why change it . dig it in then turn the soil over in spring to be ready to sow and plant as i do ..... werks for me and my dad ,grand dad and grt grandad grt grt grt ad infinitum  

[Aidy]

they still around then Munty??? Agree with munty on this ( i hate saying that)

[muntjac]

they still around then Munty??? Agree with munty on this ( i hate saying that)

 well i'l gor to foot of ar stairs ,AIDY U FEELIN OK?

[WG.]

Having collected loads of manure over the weekend we are in dispute at our house whether to dig it in or lay it on the surface.

The manure is well rotted, approx 10 years old.

What do people think?

I'd reckon that 10 years old will make it past its best.  Two years under cover is perfect.  I'd guess it looks like compost now?

For your real question though, I do both.  Surface mulch for the majority of the plot - especially for weed control in garlic.  I like leaving on surface for brassicas too.   Trench it in for potatoes, beans, peas.

[Aunt Sally]

I top dress for brassicas too.  If you dig it in you losen the soil which brassicas DO NOT like  

[splodger]

i've put manure down (now) and leave it on top - then dig it in in the spring - for my raised beds i use a more friable manure and leave it till i rake the bed.

[Aidy]

Funny enough Munty No, came back from Barcelona with blocked sinus. hate them germs on aircraft.

[Spinning Fishwife]

no dig thing another thing that in my opinion somebody who is lasy came up with .

Yup, that's why they're traditionally called Lazy Beds in Ireland!