[jetwiz]

I have had a load of Cow muck delivered its fairly fresh I wondered how long I should leave the stuff on  top of the soil before i rotovate it in and plant any ideas
thanks
andy

[ESSEXBOY]

about a year.

[ESSEXBOY]

Well rotted horse manure is the best for heavy soil, but i normally get well rotted cow manure just because i can get it so cheap.  
Fresh cow manure is not a good idea, because it can make the ground very cold and sour.

[richyrich7]

Just thought I'd add   welcome to the forums Andy    I reckon essexboy's spot on with about a year.

[Rob the rake]

 
Fresh cow manure is not a good idea, because it can make the ground very cold and sour.

It can also burn your plants. It should be stacked into a pile, covered and left for a minimum of 6 months to rot down. If you can source a supply of well-rotted manure it can be dug in now (for the "greedy pig" part of the rotation - spuds, squashes, peas, beans, etc.) as long as your soil isn't too wet to dig. You'll know if it's too wet, it'll stick to your wellies.

Your fresh manure will have rotted in time for your next application.

[DeadlyNightshade]

I've dug in cow dung the last 5 years, from fresh to well rotted. And usually I never get round to do it until now (just got a linkbox of it today  and wheeled them from the front of the house round another 7 houses to the back and down my steep garden). By the time it was time for planting things it has miraculously vanished by 90 %. Though I'll won't do it again in the carrot bed.
Today I just left it on top of the soil, it rains that much here that it will be washed into the ground in no time and with a little bit of help of my wiggly friends most of the plentiful straw will have desintegrated too.

I placed a thick layer around the fruit trees as well... I'm not too sure, if they're going to survive it, it's learning by doing (they're all in pots)



By the way: Anyone in need for loads of halfrotted dung?

[richyrich7]

By the way: Anyone in need for loads of halfrotted dung?

Yes please how much to post  

[muntjac]

to add another thing to this ,,, cover it with black polythene if your able or a tarpaulin this wila low the heat to generate and the mix wil be ready in six months  

[DeadlyNightshade]

RR: depending on how much you want

But consider: I can only send so much with a first class stamp

[richyrich7]

RR: depending on how much you want

But consider: I can only send so much with a first class stamp

   I'd love to see my posties face