Well-rotted manure

[221b]

I often hear gardening experts bandy this term about, but.....

....How rotted is well-rotted?

Do I have to keep it for months, weeks, days before using it?

TItchmarch, Don, Swift et al never seem to bother with this little detail!

Thanks!

Helen

[Robinia]

mmm, good question I didn't know this either but I've found

this

(says at least 6 months - longer if there had been shavings in it)

[221b]

Excellent, thank you Robinia!

Helen

[YvonneM]

At the begining of the year we have 2 compost heaps one was made with garden waste the previous year the other the year before that one so when my husband starts adding it to the veggie patch it is almost 2 years old when that has all been used he then starts a new one with current years grass cuttings etc and so on..............

[221b]

Thank you Yvonne

I'm not quite in the position to have two big compost heaps on the go, nor do I have lots of clippings etc, but the time scale is useful...

Many thanks...

Helen

[woodchopper]

Used to work on a farm - was told the worse the manure stinks the better the manure.

[clachries]

well rotted manure should be crumbly and dry with no smell clachries