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Uff · October 2021

This isn't a problem as such in fact it might be a bonus to me it's more advice or opinions that I'd welcome, please.

I have access to some very old sheep manure from a dry barn that could be well in excess of 30 years old. I daresay that it would be of some use to a new flower bed that I have planned but my question is, how much use will it be and will it have any nutrients in it? I have to dig it out and bag it up to bring it home and although it's bone dry, is it worth the bother?

Hostafan1 · October 2021

Uff said:

This isn't a problem as such in fact it might be a bonus to me it's more advice or opinions that I'd welcome, please.

I have access to some very old sheep manure from a dry barn that could be well in excess of 30 years old. I daresay that it would be of some use to a new flower bed that I have planned but my question is, how much use will it be and will it have any nutrients in it? I have to dig it out and bag it up to bring it home and although it's bone dry, is it worth the bother?

I'm sure , if nothing else, it'll do wonder for improving soil structure. It'll certainly do no harm

Fairygirl · October 2021

I'd agree, It'll be an excellent soil improver.

There's unlikely to be any nutritious benefit, but the soil will appreciate it.

Uff · October 2021

Thank you both. You are thinking along the same lines as I am, improving structure rather than nutrition. I reckon a few bags might be worth my time and energy.

Dovefromabove · October 2021

I’d grab it with both hands. 😉 As has been said it’ll be a great soil conditioner … I presume it’s from a barn where sheep have been overwintered or used as a lambing shed etc so will contain the broken down straw bedding … and if it’s been stored in a dry barn for however long I would’ve thought it will still contain much of the potassium and phosphate content which sheep manure contains. Great for the garden. Outside it would’ve been leached out by the rain but not in a dry barn.

I’d take as much as you can get.

Uff · October 2021

I didn't or don't know if the organic matter in manure becomes inert at some point. I have a soil testing kit so out of curiosity, I'll do a test to check for the various compounds. I'll be delighted of course if it's still viable. I'll report back with my findings and a photograph or two.

Uff · November 2021

After much searching, the soil testing kit has been found plus I have a tidy shed.
The results for the old sheep manure are thus:-
PH 6.5 slight acid
Phosphorus P1 deficient
Potash K0 depleted
Nitrogen N4 surplus

I'm not sure if I shall bother with bagging any up for myself. Perhaps.

Buttercupdays · November 2021

All the muck and straw from our sheep shed gets dumped in a pile on the field and I go and get what I want from the side that is oldest. The stuff I dug out this year was several years old, completely rotted after exposure to who knows how much rain. A couple of forkfuls on my roses and clems were positively galvanising though, they were the best they've been for years. My late flowering clem is still flowering now!

Uff · November 2021

Lucky you Buttercupdays.
Last year a friend dug down into an old midden on a friend's farm and dug out horse dung from about 15 years ago. She kindly gave me half a dozen bags and by heck it was fabulous stuff. It went onto my raised veg bed giving me some terrific veg this past year.

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