Reply To: Horse muck , cover or not?

[Zahradnik]

Hi offwego, I’ve been stacking a mixture of well rotted and fresh horse manure (mixed with the horses’ straw bedding) for about six months (maybe less in summer) for several years now in similar-sized wooden bins in a cool shady area and I would definitely have a cover (which also provides shade) over the stuff, because that gives you greater control over how wet or dry it gets. Without any cover it may get too dry and the top layer may not rot well, or alternatively it may get too wet and you will end up with an unspeakably malodorous pile of gloop which will be of no use to man or beast (or plant). But cover it in such a way as to allow the air to get to it, so I would avoid polythene. I use old hippo sacks (I take great care, of course, to make sure the hippo is no longer inside), which are also about the right size for the required tea-cosy effect, Every so often, stick a fork or spade in to see how it’s cooking. If it’s too dry, I add some Chateau MyPee. If it’s covered, it won’t be too wet. Once the initial unmistakable pong has completely gone, it’ll be almost ready for use. I still prefer even at that stage to compost it in the usual way with other ingredients. The additional benefit of the worm casts once the hot-rot stage has passed is worth the extra six weeks’ (in summer) wait, in my opinion.