Wood in compost

[Mark Waters]

Hi,

I am currently creating a new veg plot in my garden using no dig. I have sourced compost from a local farmer (2-3 year cow manure) for the raised beds but was surprised by the amount of large pieces of wood in the compost, they are around 80mm long, 30mm wide and 10mm deep. He explained the cows are kept on some sort of tray so the manure falls through and has no bedding in it, not sure where the wood came from!

I recall reading in Charles’s book on creating a new veg garden that growth may be lower the first year but then should catch up in subsequent years because the the wood taking up more nitrogen, I think, until it decomposes. I have attached a picture to show the size of the pieces of wood. Can you see this being a problem or am I better off finding a better compost for the top 2-3 inches?

[charles]

Hello Mark, that does seem odd!
However there is plenty of good manure/compost and I would use it.
Then as the manure-compost weathers you can flick any wood that is in the way onto pathways, where it’s fine as a mulch.
I don’t see any growth problems from this amount of wood.

[Mark Waters]

Thank you Charles

[Cleansweep]

Mark, suggest you use a leaf rake(Springbok type) to spread out your composted manure. It will be quite easy to hook out the larger wooden bits, which seem to be coarse woodchippings used as cattle bedding. Some would market this material as ‘having carbon additive’at a premium rate!

[Author]

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