The only reason not to put manure/compost on is if you're planning to grow root veg like carrots and parsnips. Otherwise I always would with a new bed that's been fallow. The structure may be good (hurrah) but the nutrient will be low if it's been left alone a few years. Carrots don't grow well in rich soil.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Think you dad is right Cotty i would rotovate it and let the winter do a lot of the work for you frost will break up your soil and save you endless hours next spring getting the ground down to a fine tilth
It will also get rid of all those slug eggs that are bound to be there waiting to turn into slugs and attack your produce next year.
My advice would be to leave any manure you want to put on till the spring.
Nothing to do with the subject under discussion but round our way a cotty was a person in charge of a gang of working men .
Scrogging's right. If you have clay, just fork up great lumps of it to expose more surface area to frosts but do also chuck on some manure. The worms will work it in over winter and you can add more in spring and every autumn thereafter. Let the worms do the digging.
If it's cold enough, some pests will be killed but, in my experience, slugs just burrow deeper to get down below frozen layers. We had severe frosts of -15C and worse nearly every winter in our Belgian garden and it never affected slug populations. They were dealt with by scatterings of wildlife friendly pellets around susceptible plants form Valentine's Day onwards - or the Ides of March in cold years. Easy dates to remember.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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The only reason not to put manure/compost on is if you're planning to grow root veg like carrots and parsnips. Otherwise I always would with a new bed that's been fallow. The structure may be good (hurrah) but the nutrient will be low if it's been left alone a few years. Carrots don't grow well in rich soil.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I think my dad is worried about the smell. I have told him that rotted manure doesn't smell.
That's correct.
Think you dad is right Cotty i would rotovate it and let the winter do a lot of the work for you frost will break up your soil and save you endless hours next spring getting the ground down to a fine tilth
It will also get rid of all those slug eggs that are bound to be there waiting to turn into slugs and attack your produce next year.
My advice would be to leave any manure you want to put on till the spring.
Nothing to do with the subject under discussion but round our way a cotty was a person in charge of a gang of working men .
Scrogging's right. If you have clay, just fork up great lumps of it to expose more surface area to frosts but do also chuck on some manure. The worms will work it in over winter and you can add more in spring and every autumn thereafter. Let the worms do the digging.
If it's cold enough, some pests will be killed but, in my experience, slugs just burrow deeper to get down below frozen layers. We had severe frosts of -15C and worse nearly every winter in our Belgian garden and it never affected slug populations. They were dealt with by scatterings of wildlife friendly pellets around susceptible plants form Valentine's Day onwards - or the Ides of March in cold years. Easy dates to remember.
To manure or not manure, that is the question?
For some reason I am unable to post photos. I was going to update you on the progress made today.
We have found what we believe is badger poo on the site. Is this a problem?
What do they like to eat?
Is there any way to deter them?