Manure under apple trees

We have large fruit trees, with weeds underneath, but i wouldn't put fresh stuff down. I could be wrong though.

"Can I put fresh horse manure around the trees before putting down the membrane? "

No!  fresh manure will 'steal' nitrogen from the trees. 

Do the trees look healthy and are they growing fairly well?  If so they do not need feeding.  If they look rather poorly give them a good sprinkling of a balanced fertiliser, but just removing the weeds will give them a tonic.

Cheers,

Gillie

Thanks for the replies. I will dig out as much weed as possible without disturbing the roots then feed the trees  as I pruned them quite severely in the winter (on the advice of a tree surgeon), then I'll put down the membrane to try to avoid new weed growth. I've been growing early potatoes in tyres under the trees this season and thought I might try strawberries and gooseberries in tyres for next year.