Compost and muck heap as one?

S

Sprig

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Those of you with horses at home - do you combine your muck heap and compost heap? I was thinking that I would but not sure if the timing will work. I am going to be using straw pellet bedding and thought that might be ready to go on the garden before the compost bits are ready, that is unless having everything together speedy up the composting of the garden waste.
 
As a horticulturist, the simple question is that all muckheaps should not be used on the garden less than 6 months old.

Reason is the high phosphates in manure and high acidity levels, this will wash out and the straw pellets will fully break down.

Their is sufficient nitrogen in urea for the process to work successfully.

You will find the need to lime if you use to much manure on the garden but not for your Rhododendrons and acid loving plants who will love this muck heap of yours.

As with the compost heap run 2 or 3 heaps is best and cover to prevent weed seed and getting soggy and smelly, and yes you can incorporate the two.
R
 
Thta sounds good then. I was planning on running a couple of muck heaps and putting the year old one on the garden.
 
Mine are separated. I have an old and new muck heap in the field, and transfer the year old manure to the veg garden( which used to be a car park area) placing it over flattened cardboard to keep down the weeds...
I don't want the risk of animals having access to the things I put on my compost heap, in the garden, which is every bit of compostable waste, including teabags,and coffee grounds,all grass cuttings and shrub prunings. My veg garden is really productive, in a minimal labour way :) I'm a permaculture fan.
 
I split my muck heap into three areas - I have the lovely 2 year old rotted muck which I use on the allotment, the pure poo from the field that I leave for a year and then use that on the allotment and the new stuff that is rotting down.
The veg love the muck! My farrier puts a few courgette seeds in his each year and gets loads of courgettes from the plants!
 
We use 2 or 3 and use the oldest one first, by the time that's gone, second will be good and the oldest will now become the new muckheap

Same was done at garden centre I worked at with their waste compost and plants.
 
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