RE:horsemanure

From: "Dell Perry" <dellp@gwmail.plano.gov>

I have also used horse manure.....once. 
 It was not 'fresh' but it was also not composted, I believe it is referred to as Green. I tilled it into the soil, but d/n wait to plant the iris. They survived, but did not thrive as I had expected. I also had the most unusual crop of unknown vegetation materialize in the bed. There were weeds I had never seen (big and robust things), and Johnson grass with roots the diameter of quarters (I know Texans brag, but this was real!)! What a job (two years worth) getting all that stuff out of the garden. The second year, the iris were happy and performed wonderfully. I'm not prepared to go thru year 1 again to get to year 2.   
 All subsequent horse manure and stable straw has been hot composted, which eliminates the mystery weed show, and the stress on the iris.  It, like all compost, is very rich, and should be used sparingly, and never on the rhizome itself, just as a soil amendment or top dressing (IMHO).  
I have heard of, but not tried yet, making manure tea and using it as a liquid fertilizer. You put the manure in a large (prefferably covered) container and fill with water. Let it sit a few days, stir if you dare, then siphon it off into the garden. With a fine screen filter on the hose, it is supposed to eliminte most of the weed seeds.

Good luck.

Dell Perry
Plano, Texas USA - Zone 7/8
Lo Ho Silver is blooming (it rained last week) and buds on Juicy Fruit (TB), Little Showoff, What Again, and a scad of other SDB's. I certainly hope there is something blooming for Destiny Dallas ( http://destinydallas.org ). Hope to see you there - April 15 - 20.




>>> michelle verville <mickyjonny@yahoo.com> 03/09/00 01:12PM >>>
From: michelle verville <mickyjonny@yahoo.com>

Hi everyone,
  I have a question about horse manure.  I will be
getting a load of it from a friend but a lot of it
won't be aged very long.  Will it hurt my irises. 
Please tell me all you know about about horse manure. 
Ex: age, acidity, weeds, nutrients ect....Thanks
Again!
Michelle Verville
Brethren, mi zone 5
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