sheep manure application

Can you tell me something about application of well aged sheep-straw manure. Is late fall or spring good time to spread and cover it with sawdust? How close to the bushes? Thanks !

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The best time to apply manure to large areas such as fields is in the fall, using a manure spreader. Spreading the manure ensures that you manure the fields evenly.

Do not apply more manure than your crops or plants can use, and don't spread it too close to water sources as run-off or leaching will pollute your water.

Some states have rigid rules of where, how and if you can spread manure as determined by the lay of the land, whether it is close to rivers, has a high water table, whether the land slopes more than 15% etc.

Therefore, before spreading your manure check with your Natural Resources Conservation Department and see if there are any issues that would prevent you from spreading your manure as you would like.

If you are just applying manure to small shrubs, trees and roses etc., then this is a different approach altogether. Here you can apply manure both in the fall and in the spring.

Applying manure in the spring gives your plants an initial boost after the winter, and again in the late fall after it has spent most of its energy growing during this time.

No matter how well-aged your manure is, never place it too close to the stems or trunks as this invites disease and could burn your plants, especially if you are using chicken manure that is still hot. Place around the drip line for trees and about 10 cm away from the stems of shrubs and roses.

Sheep manure is not a hot manure like that of chickens, so it doesn't have to be aged to use it. Using it with straw, as you want to do, is very good as you will be able to use it either as a mulch on top of the soil and retain moisture in your soil for longer, or you can dig it in lightly.

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