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horse manure in plastic bags

staffsmagsstaffsmags Posts: 230
in The potting shed

I know I've got to keep horse manure (fresh today) for 6+ months  before use.  At the moment it is in black plastic bags. Should I tip it out onto the garden or will it be ok in the sacks?  If it is ok in the sacks should I make holes in them?  thanks, Maggie

Posts

  • pr1mr0sepr1mr0se Posts: 1,194

    My neighbour gave me some of this magic stuff.  I put some on the compost heap (it aids decomposition, I believe) and kept the rest in sacks.  I didn't puncture the bags, since the moisture would leak out, but after a few months, it was mature enough to use on the garden.  It was especially valuable (too late for this season) as an additive to the trench where the runner/climbing French beans were planted.  Must have been good - I have never had such a prolific and early crop before - and this after, as we know, a long, cold and wet spring!

  • waterbuttswaterbutts Posts: 1,214

    It's a wonderful way to breed worms too. If you take a couple from your compost heap and pop them into the bag, leave an air pocket at the top with maybe a tiny hole or two (push a pencil through) and you will be amazed at the number of worms you have after a few months.image

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,110

    I have horses, so I just leave it in a pile for a year until it is black.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • staffsmagsstaffsmags Posts: 230

    thanks all.  I will toss a couple of spadeful in the compost and find a few worms to help the bags along.  Maggie

  • jking715jking715 Posts: 2

    Hello

    I have two bags (plastic) of horse manure which have been tied up for 3 months outside my house. I have just opened them to look in and there are hundreds of minute black flies on in both bags. No smell but manure is dry but soft . Is this normal ? And can it be used with all those flies?? Any help please

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,913

    Absolutely fine and normal ... the flies will disappear when you use the manure.  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • IamweedyIamweedy Posts: 1,364

    It must be quite difficult trying to get the horses to poop into the bags though. image




    'You must have some bread with it me duck!'

  • johnpallasjohnpallas Posts: 1
    I have about 20 plastic sacks of manure tied with cable ties and I will use this manure next year
    Lucky for us as we get manure delivered for free at our allotment site 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,729


    I have horse poo and woodchip delivered free and layer them up for a year . Perfect. 
    Forgive the salt on the window, Blame Eunice.
    Devon.
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