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Gro sure farmyard manure variable?

WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
edited April 2021 in Problem solving
Evening,

A few weeks ago, I purchased some Gro sure farmyard manure from Wickes. This had a whiff of manure but nothing too bad and had the odd lump of manure within it which needed breaking up.

Today, I purchased the same product from Homebase but it is completely different - no smell at all, no lumps and is very fine and crumbly. 

Is variability common or is one of the shops stock less than ideal? Here’s a pic of each, the darker (due to been a bit damp) one is from Homebase whilst the paler one is from Wickes. 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.


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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Ive bought it from B&M, Wickes, and my local garden centre over the past 3 years and they have all been a little whiffy and dark.
    It's been quite difficult to get hold of this last year, selling out early last year so perhaps they are just different ratios of manure,  think they will do the same job though 
      
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Probably just different batches. Or one could be last year's stock that's had longer to rot down in the bag.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    If it’s older stock, will it still be as nutritious? 

    Homebase told me their stock (the darker, crumbly one) was delivered just before Easter so I’m not sure if that would be last years stock as I assume more rotted manure would be like Homebase’s (fine and crumbly), not Wickes (more clumpy)?

    K67, has yours been like the Homebase one or Wickes? 

    Thanks.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    @Wildlifelover
    If you can find locally this manure: https://www.longacres.co.uk/gardening-products/compost/country-nature-organic-stable-manure/ give it a try and see if you find it agreeable. Have been using it for the last three years and it has been very well composted every single time with very little variation. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    To be honest I can't see a lot of difference in the two pictures and I would just use both. If one's been stored outdoors for longer, some of the nutrients could have been leached out but it's still humus-rich and will be fine for soil improver or mulch. It's a natural product so some variability is expected, I think. Same as with compost.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Many thanks all, maybe I’m worrying too much over it! Just means my beds will look different now (as I’m using it as a mulch)!
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Could you not mix both bags together before spreading it as a mulch. That way at least the beds would look the same.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Unfortunately not, I only have a quarter of a bag left of the Wickes stock. Three beds are done but I’ve another 2 to do. 

    Wickes are out of stock and have no idea when they’ll be getting more.
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    I buy it regularly and the last batch I received was different than previous batches, much less lumpy. There can be differences between batches but I think it doesn't matter.
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    It will rot down to the same degree in time. I would guess that the Homebase sample contains some beneficial fungi that for whatever reason were missing in the batch that went into the Wickes bag. They can only mix them so much! Adding the less well rotted manure to the better rotted manure will introduce the fungi to each other and they can make friends and better compost :smiley:

    The one I’ve used which is really good is Woodland Shredded Horse Manure, but it costs more than the Country Natural recommended above.
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