To mel We once had a load of farmyard manure delivered(cow)must have been bedded on wood shavings containing preservatives (even had horse manure to the same degree)had a very bad year growing that year,so look on the bags.
Blimey, people, what is all this stuff? I am as much of a stickler for decent grammar as anybody but we are not exactly dealing with literary criticism here! The thing to remember about any manure/organic matter etc is that if it has been composted well enough it will all help condition your soil. Farmyard manure containing visible shavings is just not old enough. In general a pile of manure ready for the garden should smell sweet and slightly nutty: Richard's quote is particularly apt. Anything excessively stinky is not mature enough (I did buy some stuff from an abattoir once that really was nasty: there was a distinct marital froideur for a few days). Ashes are fine to add to the compost heap as is torn paper: I shred all my old bills, envelopes etc and put them on the compost.
James - I don't think the real problem has been grammar, or lack of it. More that we don't like to be scolded in the manner of the first comment here. 'Holier than thou' comments deserve a bit of ridicule and backchat in my opinion.
Lainey - not really, it will slow down the compost production.
I compost it separately - keep it wet for a year, to let the wood shavings rot down a little. I then use it as a mulch round my apple trees and soft fruit. Keeps the weeds at bay and the rabbit poo counteracts the nitrogen sapping effects of the wood shavings.
Any thoughts please on used cat litter in the garden? I wonder even if droppings are removed, is it safe from bacteria - have seen suggestions to put it in the compost bin or even to sprinkle directly on the soil when some of it will of course be damp. I worry about harm when later weeding etc. as don't always find gloves convenient, and if food will be safe to eat.I am inclined to tuck in odd food plants in flower beds, e.g. garlic, chard etc.
Posts
We once had a load of farmyard manure delivered(cow)must have been bedded on
wood shavings containing preservatives (even had horse manure to the same degree)had a very bad year growing that year,so look on the bags.
The thing to remember about any manure/organic matter etc is that if it has been composted well enough it will all help condition your soil.
Farmyard manure containing visible shavings is just not old enough.
In general a pile of manure ready for the garden should smell sweet and slightly nutty: Richard's quote is particularly apt. Anything excessively stinky is not mature enough (I did buy some stuff from an abattoir once that really was nasty: there was a distinct marital froideur for a few days).
Ashes are fine to add to the compost heap as is torn paper: I shred all my old bills, envelopes etc and put them on the compost.
'Holier than thou' comments deserve a bit of ridicule and backchat in my opinion.
I compost it separately - keep it wet for a year, to let the wood shavings rot down a little. I then use it as a mulch round my apple trees and soft fruit. Keeps the weeds at bay and the rabbit poo counteracts the nitrogen sapping effects of the wood shavings.
Fantastic stuff.
Suews1: the white stuff are fungi and just part of the rotting down process it is particularly obvious in mushroom compost.
Worry not.
/