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Mount Prospect,illinois

I got a line on some horse manure that i can get for free. I stopped by to check it out and the pile is huge so i think i can get some well composted stuff. My question is this. What can i expect as far as straw being in the compost? And, I saw some "new" horse manure and smelled the ammonia. How long does it take for any horse urine to break down if i accidentally grab some new stuff?

10/8/2006 11:51:54 AM

Montoursville, PA

Great stuff if old. OK even if new fresh manure but should both go on this fall to be in the best shape by spring. Add some leaves and molasses. Follow immediately after tilling with a cover crop. Till early in the spring with more molasses. Don't be afraid to put on four inches if you can get that much hauled and in this fall.

10/8/2006 9:21:10 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Thanks Docgipe. I will add molasses too.

10/10/2006 4:08:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Horses have only 1 stomache so there may be some weed seeds in the fresh stuff. As you noted there may also be some weeds from uneaten feed hay & bedding.

Dwaine's advice about Molasses will help stimulate bacteria to counteract urine & if the pile stays warm enough, might even help destroy the weed seeds.

Horse Manure + Age = Happy Growing

10/10/2006 4:54:32 PM

Montoursville, PA

Mother Nature's cover crop is always a mixture of plants so don't worry about weed seed in horse manure. The diversety provided by whatever seed the horse poop offers may strenthen your cover crop diversety. Very few weeds can stand up to a well placed cover crop in the fall. Most spring weeds were there in the first place. All weeds or most weeds can be defeated with a two to three inch leaf mulch or five inch loose old hay or straw mulch.

The best mulch is old hay because it has not be run through the horse yet.

10/10/2006 9:21:24 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

LOL...I just don't like Timothy I guess. LOL

10/10/2006 10:33:31 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

thanks guys, now i just have to get both molasses and a cover crop. Rye/buckwheat i have no idea what is best.

10/11/2006 10:17:05 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Rye....Buckwheat is a warm weather crop. Winter Rye will grow over the winter months. Do not get Rye Grass....It should look like wheat.

10/11/2006 10:42:16 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Winter rye..got it. Now about Molasses. Just unsulfered stuff or does it matter? Looks like i can get it online for around $4 for 15oz. Maybe one of those health stores carry it.

10/11/2006 8:38:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Unsulfonated Molasses - sulfur is added to retard spoilage - we WANT spoilage. LOL Bacteria is a foe to our dinner but a friend in the compost or soil.

10/11/2006 11:14:56 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Got it Tremor, thanks...spoilage...good.
My wife thinks this whole thing is strange.

10/12/2006 7:24:41 AM

dave get to a feed store you can buy a 4 gallon bucket for less than $15,,,,,,

this time of year Gander Mountain and most of the sporting goods chain stores also have if to "baiting" purposes

10/12/2006 8:33:48 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Looks like Bass Pro has the same thing for less than $6.00 for a big bucket of feed grade molasses. Thanks again.

10/12/2006 10:57:43 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

I got the stuff and have one more question. Is there a limit to how much to spray on the manure (or compost for that matter)? Or can i go ahead an drench the crap out of it? (pun)

10/19/2006 7:30:42 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

dave in my humble opinion and experience with molasses and manure it doesnt hurt to add as much as you can soak the pile the worms and benificial fungi will stand up and say yummmy we thank you!

10/19/2006 9:38:59 PM

Something else to add on the topic of horse manure, how old? I've been getting manure from a local stable for the past 3 years. In the past I've used the horse manure that came from a pile aged about two years. It was terrific, well broken down and packed with worms. Also I had very little problems with weeds. This past summer I got a load from the same place off of a pile that was 4 years old. I used it to help bury vines and just keep on hand, and after spreading I had a terrible problem with weeds. This fall I again picked up some two year aged and was told by the farmer that in his experience right at about 2 years it is at its prime and after much longer he finds that the pile tends to lose most of the worm population and starts to again build up a large amount of weeds and weed seed. I'm not an expert in composting, but from experience I think he is right on the money.

11/3/2006 4:58:34 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

The horse manure I get is sitting about a year or two. It virtually has no weed seeds because it was HOT and composted. The stuff that is sitting any longer has a better chance of weed seeds blowing in.

11/3/2006 7:47:12 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Tony,
The stuff i get could probably be 1 year to about 3 years old depending on where in the pile i grab it. It is a huge pile.
Hey George,
The place i found is just North of Lake Zurich on Rt 12. A short bit away from you.

11/3/2006 8:38:48 PM