[chili]

i have a chance of some free horse muck the average age of this is between 1 week and 1 month, am i able to use this on my plot?
also is cow muck useable?

thanks

[binner]

i would get as much as you can and pile it up in a big heap and forget about it untill this time next year, by then it will be great stuff, dont know about cow muck

[Jamie Butterworth]

You could even just spread it on your veg beds no and let the worms drag it down over the winter, and by the time it comes to spring it will be ready dug in by the worms and ready to use.

As for cow muck, i think it can be used but isnt as good as horse manure, but it does the job

[chili]

thanks all i wanted to know is if i could use it at this stage in its life ie reasonably fresh.....ish

[binner]

you can but it will be better if left to rot,

one other thing to note is that it will be full of grass and weed seeds from the horse field, their hay and straw that will grow in your beds if its not had time to rot, trust me i found out this year as i run out of well rotted stuff so put fresh on one of my beds

[chili]

you can but it will be better if left to rot,

one other thing to note is that it will be full of grass and weed seeds from the horse field, their hay and straw that will grow in your beds if its not had time to rot, trust me i found out this year as i run out of well rotted stuff so put fresh on one of my beds

ah i see thanks for that snippet of info

[aelf]

cow muck has a lot less goodness in it than horse muck, but all muck is good. I would say that letting it rot down for several months is essential first though

[compostqueen]

It's not essential to let it rot down, but preferable. At this time of year best let it rot down. I've shovelled some straight onto the beds where I'd cleared my spuds. It will sit there over winter. I've put loads in black dalek compost bins to rot down.  I like muck of any description. It's brilliant stuff 

[Yorkie]

Just don't put it where you want to grow carrots or parsnips next year, or have just sown garlic or onions

[chili]

Just don't put it where you want to grow carrots or parsnips next year, or have just sown garlic or onions

may i ask why?

anyway as an update i got some older stuff today....6months old fairly well rotted down

[Jamie Butterworth]

Just don't put it where you want to grow carrots or parsnips next year, or have just sown garlic or onions

may i ask why?

anyway as an update i got some older stuff today....6months old fairly well rotted down

Because root veg such as carrots and parsnips dont like manure, or anything lumpy for that matter like stones, as when the roots hit it,they tend to fork leaving you with very miss shapen carrots.