[TREGRAHOW]

At the very bottom of one of my compost bins I'm finding whole "cobs" of horse manure. They don't seem to want to break down at all. I remember trying to chop them with a sharp spade before they went into the bin all that time ago; nearly two years. Most of it was so spongey it returned to it's natural shape even after a couple of whacks. I don't have a shredder so how do I get the horse manure to begin breaking down?

Would putting it into perforated plastic barrels with layers of pigeon muck do the trick?

[tallulah]

It might be worth soaking them in water for a while - ie weeks, then straining off the resultant liquid for a good organic liquid feed in the spring  .

[Hobnails]

I put it into a bean trench if you have one open. I do the same with moss that won't break down easily otherwise.

[Hamani]

That sort of thing needs air to break down. If its just been sat at the bottom of the bin for a few years I'm not surprised.

If you put it back in the compost and turn it every couple of months it should break down pretty fast. Otherwise dig it into a bean trench and let them break it down for you.

I get a metric ton of manure delivered every year and put it on top of my beds, then dig it in 2 or 3 times over the winter (weather permitting). I know what you mean about the sticky 'cobs' but they do break down, trust me.

- Gary.

[lassie]

What is a bean trench please?

[Yorkie]

Dig a trench where your beans or peas will be grown this season.  Leave it open, use it to put your composting materials in - scatter with thin layer of soil occasionally to stop it blowing about etc.

Then, eventually, it will be filled in and you plant on top of the trench.  It retains moisture and nutrients better.