[LittleSlugInTheNorth]

Back in Oct/Nov I put a load of manure on the plot and so far it hasn't broken down one bit, which I thought it would due to all the snow in Dec  Am wondering if I've put too much on and should remove some of it or dig/rotovate it in? The year before what I put on just disappeared over the winter but this year there's about 6 inches resting on top of the soil.  Thanks in advance to anyone who know about these things and can help. 

[AndyRVTR]

How deep was it when you put it on the soil?

[LittleSlugInTheNorth]

Just the same- looks like I did it last week unfortunately. 

[Nige2Plots]

Was it fresh or well rotted?

[LittleSlugInTheNorth]

Probably fresh - it certainly didn't look like peat, like the horse poo described by the poster who is giving the stuff away. At our site you can only buy it from one supplier and you have to take what comes!

[Nige2Plots]

Probably fresh - it certainly didn't look like peat, like the horse poo described by the poster who is giving the stuff away. At our site you can only buy it from one supplier and you have to take what comes!

Well rotted does seem to disappear sooner, I suspect you put "Fresh" on your plot!

[AndyRVTR]

 I think it may help if we found out what you are planning to grow on the part what you manured?

[Nige2Plots]

I think it may help if we found out what you are planning to grow on the part what you manured?

That is a good point Andy.

[LittleSlugInTheNorth]

It's on every bed bar one, which was 'manured' the year before, so I'm planning on growing all sorts - potatoes, courgettes, onions, peas, beans, beetroot and anything else I fancy.

[Jome]

If you dig it in a bit I'm sure it would break down quicker, did it have lots of worms in it?

[Nige2Plots]

Remember Root Veg does not like manure so that looks good ! Unless you are counting it in"Anything else I fancy"
I would dig it in on what you have said!l

[LittleSlugInTheNorth]

Well digging it in will probably be a bit easier than shovelling into the wheel barrow and trying to find space for it elsewhere so all's good. 

There were some worms in it, but not as many as the stuff last year which may be why it looks just like it did when I first put it on the beds! 

[Kleftiwallah]

I think I remember putting a bet on the horse it came from ! ! !     Cheers,    Tony.

[radiohead]

I have noticed this in my couple of years on the plot....people tell me just bung it on the dug over ground in the autumn and let the worms pull it in,well I put well rotted stuff on my plot and the ground is full of worms,and yet the manure stays stubbornly on the top right through to spring...it does on theirs as well.
Last spring I just forked it well in and had a really good summer season,will do the same with the manure thats been sitting on top again, just as soon as the ground starts to dry out a bit.

[mumofstig]

I think it's a bit optimistic to expect worms to shift a 6in deep layer of muck...it is asking a lot of the poor things................like me they don't do much when it's cold