Sheep Manure

21 years ago

Hi All,

I just got hold of about a cubic metre of dry sheep manure from a shearing shed. It is at least 12 months old and very dry. Question is - do I now wet it and put it under black plastic to destroy any weed seeds, or is it OK to use immediately? Intended use is on young roses, maples and shrubs.

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Comments (6)

lomatia
21 years ago
I'd use it straight away. I get mine from my b-in-l and just dig it in. There will be weeds but just keep on top of them. You'll see weeds you have never seen before!!!
pepino
21 years ago
To eliminate most of the weeds you can ferment it. Simply heap it and let it sit for a week. If it is really dry you could wet it down to activate the process. Then re heap it and let it sit another week. This should kill most weeds/seeds. I use this process for all manures although I've never used sheep.
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joantaylor
Original Author
21 years ago
Thank you Lomatia and Pepino for your advice. As I have a great heap sheep manure from a local shearing shed I think I will try some both the ways you have suggested in differnt areas of the garden...LOL.
I also have cow and horse manure, along with lucerne hay and oat straw - which is a pest as it sprouted oats as soon as it got wet, so will compost this next year rather than use straight up as mulch. I also have a small quantity of daggy wool. So all in all I've got a fair bit of materials for mulch. My garden is not yet a year old, started with blank canvas. I've put in over 100 trees, shrubs and roses and last week planted a self polinating cherry and a Meyer lemon. The only other fruit tree I have is a mulberry.
Should I mulch the young fruit trees. I have given them Seasol only on planting.
cheers
Joan
sarah_may
21 years ago
Mulching's always good Joan, you'll need a lot for 100 trees though! Remember to keep it away from the trunks so you don't get any rot.
antesoo
21 years ago
The weeds can be a real pain if you don't compost the manure.I did as you and cleaned out under a neighbouring farmers shearing shed...it was old dry and dusty but the weeds came in droves as soon as it rained ..i ended up with couch and kikiyu which I had never had ..and now will have forever...err on the side of caution and compost it or even better soak in a 44 gal drum and use the liquid as liquid manure...no weeds and lots of great growth.The manure alone will wash away too fast for effective mulch ..you need straw as well and not near your rose bush trunks (or trees either) or you will get collar rot.
Best of luck and happy gardening
shano_2009
17 years ago
Excellent, clean sheep manure for sale which is well broken down

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