Horse manure

Guernsey Donkey2

This week I have put horse manure around the roses and apple trees.  Can I also do this for plums, cherries and rhubarb now?

pansyface

The alternative being? Keep it in bags till the spring?

I’d keep it in bags till the spring.

That would prevent the winter rains and snows from leaching out all the goodness.

Dovefromabove

I would happily do it now on heavier soils. It’s only on free draining lighter soils that I’d leave it until the spring. 
  

Guernsey Donkey2

So there is no hard and fast rule? I don't want to kill anything or prevent them from giving us a good crop next year.  I am tempted to do it now, our soil isn't free draining, and I could always add some more in the Spring if we have enough to do both or we will use the excess to dig into the courgette/squash bed in the Spring.

pansyface

As long as it’s not fresh out of the horse, there’s no risk of anything bad happening.

And if you have more,  the more the merrier.

Fairygirl

pansyface said:

As long as it’s not fresh out of the horse, 

  
I find it great put down at this time of year on my clay soil GD, so if your soil's hefty, it's great stuff for doing now.
It's often easier too, as everything's dying back, and you can get in among plants more easily. 

Guernsey Donkey2

Yes, it is quite well rotted pansy, we collected it about 4 months ago, kept it in the black plastic bags and it has broken down well.  I was going to take the manure out of the bags when we collected it, but I think being warm and steamy has helped it to rot quicker.

The proof will be in the harvest next year, and the apple trees seem to produce well whatever we do to them! At least that is how it seems.

Redwing

Now is a good time to spread manure around fruit trees and elsewhere. The worms will work it in over the winter.

Guernsey Donkey2

I have now spread the manure around most of the fruit trees, the roses and rhubarb.   I must add some around the blackcurrant bushes this week too.