Many grasses and perennials won't perform well when nitrogen rich manure has been added to the soil. The grass stems and flower stalks become lax and break easily in wind and rain and perennials start to produce too much leafy growth at the expense of flowering. It's all about knowing your own soil and the plants that you grow and making suitable choices. Organic matter added to the soil in the form of a mulch at any time of year suits the type of plants that I grow in free draining sandy soil.
Thank you esp @Pete.8 and @rossdriscoll13. Yes, Souvenir du DJ is a tricky rose and I know @Fire was also dissatisfied with hers, but hope springs eternal...
There is often confusion around the terms used. Farmyard manure is not 'just poo', It consists of the animal bedding (usually wheat straw) along with the urine and droppings ... it is removed from the stockyards/sheds and stacked until it begins to break down. It's sometimes 'turned' a couple of times just as compost is, to ensure aeration and even break-down of the materials ... the nitrogen in the urine acts to break-down the straw while it's stacked. This is why fresh (unstacked) manure shouldn't be used on planted areas ... the nitrogen content is too high and the plants and roots can be 'scorched'. Well-rotted farmyard manure contains less nitrogen as it has evaporated into the atmosphere as it breaks down the straw ...
'just poo' is slurry and is stored in tanks before being spread or 'injected' into the ground by the farmer/contractor., under strictly regulated conditions. It's not available to the general gardener.
'Pony pickings' sometimes for sale/sometimes free on the side of the road are pony/horse droppings gathered where they've been grazing ... it's considered good grazing management as it helps prevent intestinal worm infestations and aso prevents tufty patches of grass and weeds developing. However it doesn't contain the animal's bedding so has less organic matter and won't act as well as a soil improver as farmyard manure does. It is very useful added to a compost heap where it will act as an 'activator' because of it's nitrogen content.
That's very helpful @Dovefromabove, thank you. I've always been suspicious of branded bags of "Farmyard Manure" as they have no meaningful list of contents or indication of whether they are peat free - I think they should!
It's because it can vary so much @Plantminded. It's rarely great quality in my experience, but perhaps I don't use it often enough to really judge. Still does the job of helping soil condition though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Manure and compost are wonderful things, but they feed the soil, not the plants.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
'just poo' is slurry and is stored in tanks before being spread or 'injected' into the ground by the farmer/contractor., under strictly regulated conditions. It's not available to the general gardener.
'Pony pickings' sometimes for sale/sometimes free on the side of the road are pony/horse droppings gathered where they've been grazing ... it's considered good grazing management as it helps prevent intestinal worm infestations and aso prevents tufty patches of grass and weeds developing. However it doesn't contain the animal's bedding so has less organic matter and won't act as well as a soil improver as farmyard manure does. It is very useful added to a compost heap where it will act as an 'activator' because of it's nitrogen content.
This explains it all in more detail https://modernfarmer.com/2015/05/get-a-load-of-our-manure-guide/
Perhaps the answer is ... get to know your poo.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We used to enjoy working in the midden on colder days. Grand for heating up the feet....
Wellies on of course- not bare feet, I hasten to add.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Still does the job of helping soil condition though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...