Forum home› Problem solving

Soil Conditioner + Muck recipe

peterAk-e2QMcpeterAk-e2QMc Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I'm going try to improve an area of fairly poor ground with a mix of Soil Conditioner (composted garden waste, supplied through our recycling centre but composted commercially elsewhere), manure (commercial bagged farmyard manure) and a bit of horticultural grit.

Can anyone suggest ratios / a recipe? I think I'm just going to top dress, an inch or so (25mm in new money :smile: ) and let it work it's way in. Left to my own devices I'd probably go 4:1 conditioner to muck but wonder if anyone else has done this.

The area previously had chickens on it (before our time), bark chippings (mostly cleared away but some have invariably found their way into the soil), and has a mature cherry tree on it. You would have thought that the chicken muck would have made nice fertile soil but apparently not. It's also just outside some woodland.

Thanks for any advice!

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,253
    I wouldn't bother with the grit, but I would add a good 2-4 inches of the others, in any ratio you feel like.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,133
    I wouldn't bother with the grit - it would need to be in huge quantities for it to of any real benefit. It's better for containers, or even raised beds if they weren't too big.
    It won't matter what the ratio of manure to compost though. Add whatever you have, in any quantity - it's all soil conditioner and helps the structure and drainage of the soil.

    The only thing to watch out for is the maturity of the manure. If it's well rotted [I'm assuming it is as it's commercially bagged] it's fine anywhere, but fresh stuff would only go on bare ground.
    The bark is also fine as it works into the soil too  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,253
    Snap.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,724
    Totally agree with @Fairygirl and @punkdoc. Very sound advice 😊 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • peterAk-e2QMcpeterAk-e2QMc Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone, great advice! :)
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 205
    Ok just to be different I would throw in some grit. I had an old bed I was rejuvenating as it was quite heavy and I mulched it last year with a 50:50 manure compost mulch. It didn’t seem to do too much so in the autumn I did it again (we sort of roughly dug in the mulch) but this time threw in a couple of scoops of grit and I think it has helped the soil be a bit more friable. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,253
    Unless you add literally tons of grit, it really won't make any difference, but it will cost you an awful lot of money.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,133
    The fact that you added more organic matter is what made the difference, not the grit.

    The scoops would need to have been the size of the 'scoop' on a JCB to make any difference   ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.