Hi Al,
I have had the same issue in the past where I was very late putting the Horse Manure on the bed, too late for mother nature to fully break it down.
The only way I found to deal with this situation was to break the lumps down by hand around each planting hole.
A lot of work, I know, but served as a lesson to me to make sure I get this particular form of compost down on the beds as early in autumn/winter as I can.
I’m just wondering now as I write, if mixing leafmould with it might slow the drying out and prevent it becoming so hard? Any thoughts anyone?
Don.