If you have stables near you it's worth asking if they have manure for sale, often they will let you have it free providing you do the shovelling yourself. There's no need to dig in manure or compost if you top dress with it, the worms will do the work for you.
Sheal is right. My sister keep steeds. They keep them at a farm now that keeps all the poo because they compost it themselves, but she used to keep them at another farm where, like many, they have to pay people to deal with the poo. One time I went up there with a load of sacks and my dad's trailer. The lady that ran the stables loved it. As far as she was concerned I was doing her a favour, I cleaned out half a dozen stables 'for nowt'. From my point of view she was doing me a favour, she was letting me take a trailer load of poo for nowt
That's what I did a couple of years back but the stables have moved, saying that I'm sure I can find another. So it doesn't matter if it isn't well rotted? I know I did it before out of desperation, but I keep reading that you shouldn't use fresh manure with bedding bits in it?
Very fresh poo is likely to be acidic, and will certainly be a bit harsh for many plants. Some say don't use it at all, but it works fine for spuds, and unless roses have changed beyond recognition in the last 30 years, it works for roses too (it used to be common practice to put fresh, still steaming horse poo on the roses). Everything else though, I'd let it rot for a bit before using it.
No Mamashoe, it needs to rot down first. Quite a few of us are using Chicken Manure Pellets now and they're fairly cheap to buy if you shop around.
Thanks Clueless and Sheal. You've been a great help. I'm off work this week so really want to get as much done as I can.
My Phormium (I think it's Jester), not entirely sure though, is looking a bit "rusty" and just not looking that good. It's been in the same place for about 3 years in full sun and VERY well drained soil. I usually just cut off the straggly bits but I was wondering if I cut it back down to the ground if it would give it a new lease of life for next year or just a premature death! I only added a picture as I didn't actually know what it was called and had to google it. There might be someone out there that recognizes it like myself without actually knowing the name. Also, I am really sorry but do you create a new thread when you want to ask a different question non relevant to the previous ones or just continue posting from here. I've never been on a Forum of any sort and am a little confused and feeling like a mug... I have also accidentally posted this on the "Sell" Forum.
Don't worry, Mamashoe, I do it all the time. It's probably better to start a new thread now and abandon the "New to GC thread" as it will give you a clean break to start asking questions about other subjects.
