horse manure
 

Is it wise to add fresh horse manure as mulch in my greenhouse?
to prepare the soil for next season...

Been using it on my no-till raised bed for the last 5 years. As my bed is exposed to the elements and breaks down by planting time I don't know about your situation with your beds being under cover.

Ami

It's a smart idea to test it for herbicide. All you have to do is grow a bean plant in a cup of it. If the leaves are not gnarled, then it's ok.

Dow chemical made a web site about contaminated manure: [url]http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/[/url]

Onb another forum, someone says it's better to let it rot for a year before adding it as mulch.
When you use it fresh, a lot of nitrogen an phosphates will go in to the environement.
Is that true?

[QUOTE=Itoero;438007]Onb another forum, someone says it's better to let it rot for a year before adding it as mulch.
When you use it fresh, a lot of nitrogen an phosphates will go in to the environment.
Is that true?[/QUOTE]It can be true, but if you cover the manure with leaf mulch, (or hay straw grass clippings wood chips etc) it will speed the decomposition process and you'll likely be fine by spring.:yes:

Good idea, it's autumn, so there are plenty leafs.

Bump
 

Forgive a newbie question, please. Just built my raised bed boxes but haven't filled them yet with soil or amendments. A friend has offered horse manure from her farm. Should the manure be mixed in at this time of year with my new soil and other amendments or should the manure 'age' and be allowed to breakdown some before use in the beds? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

BytheNbrs

[QUOTE=Bythenbrs;455127]Forgive a newbie question, please. Just built my raised bed boxes but haven't filled them yet with soil or amendments. A friend has offered horse manure from her farm. Should the manure be mixed in at this time of year with my new soil and other amendments or should the manure 'age' and be allowed to breakdown some before use in the beds? Thanks in advance for any guidance.BytheNbrs[/QUOTE]
I would suggest you do some herbicide testing before you fill those raised beds.
There is so much herbicide around, it would be heart breaking to find the plants won't grow.
Will entail digging it all out again.