Composting Mulch?

**ptannjr** · 10-21-2008, 05:33 PM

Well i hate to admit it but this years spring and fall gardens suck. So i picked up a load of horse manure and spread it over the garden. then i found a guy with loads of horse stall cleanings. i spread one load and piled 2 more loads. the are mosly wood chips, hay and some manure. I figure if we work the pile well and push it we should have good compost for late february early march plantings. Never done this before so input is appreciated. I guess to speed the process i can add some fertalizer to the pile and some worms or lime.

Suggestions?

railbuggy · 10-21-2008, 08:20 PM

Hard to say?Dont know how good or bad the soil is in your naborhood.Call your county agraculture agency.Lots of free advice.Im not a farmer,but I did a hydro grow once.

**ptannjr** · 10-21-2008, 08:33 PM

HYDRO

Man our soil sucks. Mostly sand with very little organics.

yarro · 10-21-2008, 08:42 PM

Horse manure generally has to be composted down first. If you mix it into the soil uncomposted, it depletes the nitrogen in the soil until it breaks down.

-Yarro

flopshot · 10-21-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yarro

Horse manure generally has to be composted down first. If you mix it into the soil uncomposted, it depletes the nitrogen in the soil until it breaks down.

-Yarro

yep, the uncomposted manure and woodchips will cause you to have to add nitrogen. get a bag of 10-10-10 and toss it in the area to make up the difference. in any event, the chips and humus you've added will help next season. get a couple soil samples and have them tested. your PH may be out of whack.

**ptannjr** · 10-22-2008, 02:38 PM

i figured the nitro was bad the. 10-10-10 sounds good for the pile. I will prolly get the soil done in a week or 2.