wood shavings and chicken manure

stef · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: wood shavings and chicken manure

hi, new to gardening looking for any help /tips going, I am starting off a vege. plot this year and was wondering if ckicken manure and wood shavings are any good for anything ? i have been putting them around the base of some of the hedging i planted last year to stop weeds growing and these hedges are twice the size off the rest already Confused

Foxylock · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:36 am Post subject:

welcome stef. chicken manure is a great fertiliser and the shavings will make a good mulch. enjoy the site.

stef · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject:

thanks Foxylock , at the moment using it as mulch but can it be added to the compost or dug into the ground ? will it hold to much water in the soil ? Confused

only new to this site trying to find my way around and new to gardening Embarassed

thanks stef.

Foxylock · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject:

I would put it on the compost heap and mix in plenty of of green material ensuring it rots down quickly. Chicken manure can be a bit strong to use directly on delicate plants and seedlings.

paul5000 · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:20 am Post subject:

I agree with foxy. Chicken manure is strong and would be best mixed with other material. Your home compost would be a good start, that's if you compost. if not leaf mould from your trees, which also is excellent mulch.

sal · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:37 am Post subject:

i was cleaning out the chicken houses and it was so cold and my hands too frozen i put all the poo round my 2 apple tree`s that grow next to the houses,rather than go to the compost site which is not that far but the ground so icy round it,i had visions of me flat out with 2 buckets of poo everywhere,hope the poo dosn`t kill the tree`s,i was hoping it might do them good?

forest flame · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject:

hi sal
no worries there as you spread the manure around the base and not directly on the roots. it will seep in over time and definitely benefit the trees

verge · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject:

The age of the trees would be an issue also, with younger trees being worse affected.

stef · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone, with 4-5 wheelbarrow loads every two months it would be too much for the compost, i'll put 1 or 2 in and just keep using the rest for mulch. thanks Razz

Foxylock · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:09 am Post subject:

Find some local gardeners and barter with it or sell it, There's money in s%?t you know Laughing

stef · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:28 am Post subject:

Thanks foxylocks ,but i am going to try growing some vegie's this year, I am a complete newcomer to gardening , just wanted to know the uses for it,(seen buckets of it in garden centers) ,but with wood shavings mixed in didn't know if I can mix it into the soil or i'll just keep using it as mulch. thanks again Smile

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:36 am Post subject:

poultry manure not suitable for apple trees as it is too high in nitrogen and this encourages such diseases as canker. neither is it best for hedges as it encourages soft rapid growth. the wood chippings help to absorb(or use up ) the nitrogen. put it in the compost heap but use layers of soil or clippings in between layers.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:37 am Post subject:

poultry manure not suitable for apple trees as it is too high in nitrogen and this encourages such diseases as canker. neither is it best for hedges as it encourages soft rapid growth. the wood chippings help to absorb(or use up ) the nitrogen. put it in the compost heap but use layers of soil or clippings in between layers.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

forest flame · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject:

HI MICHAEL THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS SO HIGH IN NITROGEN

sal · Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:32 pm Post subject:

oops,shan`t do that again,thanks Michael