Manure

[Dodger253]

I might be stepping into it but....

What is the best manure? Horse or cow? Has anyone any experience of getting manure from local farmers? I have yet to approach mine although I think now is the time to do it as he is carting loads of it to his pasture (his is cow manure).

[Tancrède]

Cow.

Horses have fire in their arses  -  as we used to say in Devon.  Well rotted cow dung is far superior.

[Joe]

Cow. I had half a trailer load in November,spread it on the veg plot and flower beds.Let it over winter,dug it all in 2 weeks ago.Hoping for bumper crops. Fingers crossed!

[Gardengirl]

I've only ever used horse manure, which is great! Horse manure is meant to contain a lot more weed seeds than cow manure, due to the animals' digestion system, I understand!  But whatever you have locally is the stuff to go for, whether cow, horse, rabbit etc.

I always either put it into compost bins for a couple of seasons, or spread it onto the soil in the autumn and let the worms take it down - I haven't been into digging for years.

My father used to have a delivery of horse manure every year, which had to be taken by wheelboarrow from the roadside where it was dropped off. It was wheeled to the steps, carried up 4 steps, across past the outhouse, carried down 4 steps, then dumped on the garden. Hard work, but he had an amazing garden, with never a weed daring to show it's face! He also used to send us kids out with a shovel and bucket when the greengrocer came by with his horse and cart - so embarrassing!  [:D]