Question on Garden startup

[jimmer2880]

Please pardon the dumb questions. I'm new to gardening.

My wife & I plan on starting a garden in the spring of 2010 (although, there is a chance to start it this spring ('09)).

We have the finest clay for top soil, then shale under that, there is.

The local landfill sells compost by the ton at a very reasonable price. However, I have a buddy who has a handful of horses and plenty of poop from cleaning out the stalls.

I have a single bottom plow and a rototiller for my little yanmar tractor. My plan, was to plow to bust the dirt, then rototill. Then, come in with some compost and plow/till again. This is what I have done with flower plots around the house, they have turned out well.

But - my buddy has offered to deliver to me a couple trailer loads of his stall "left overs". Now, I have no idea what to do.

1) Is the horse poop better than the compost from the local landfill?
2) If we go with the poop - how much should I put on? Our garden will probably be about 25'x50' ~ish
3) How long prior should I start prepping the soil? Is a couple months enough, or should I do it for over a year?
4) I realize it's a relatively small garden compared to many on here. Is the plow and tiller enough, or should I look into additional equipment


thank you for any help you can toss my way.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Jimmer,

I would not trust the land fill stuff - you have no control over what people put in the green carts. You friend's horse manure is the way to go.

I am about to start what you are planning. We have hard clay here. We did have a small garden - 20x30 years ago but I am planning on a larger one probably 100'x 25' pie shape.

My plan is to put about 6 inches of composted manure over top of area and let it rest. Will till in the spring once the land is passable. If you can get composted manure it is better. If you can only get fresh - compost it - you will need at least a year for good compost; no seeds, wood chips broken down etc.

Your plan of busting the dirt and rototilling will help. I don't have a plow so many passes over the sod, clay and composted manure will have to work.

The more you can let the manure break down over the garden area the better. Part of the new garden area was a huge compost pile for years - it will be easy tilling due to the break down of sod and soil from the manure.

Good luck - keep us posted. I will probably start to lay composted manure in the new year - once the ground is frozen.

Lots of good info on manure on the net.

lloyd

PS: if you can get the area tilled or prepared and allow the snow to fall, the snow will add good nitrogen for free.

 

[jimmer2880]

Thanks Lloyd. Our ground just froze, so I can probably still plow it. Perhaps I'll do that, and start getting loads from him.

I was a little concerned about the dump stuff also - especially since we plan on eating what grows in there

thanks for the good info.

 

[mbohuntr]

My 2 cents... Manure is the way to go, but fresh manure is too "hot" , it will harm your plants. Better to get the oldest stuff he has at first, and put the fresh stuff aside for a year to drop the strength so your plants don't get burned. (Urine and manure is very acidic) Avoid wood chips as they give nitrogen issues(I'm not sure if it adds, or pulls it down). Avoid unknowns like landfill as you might have stuff like arsenic from pressure treated lumber in it. Grass clippings and leaves piled for compost make awsome soil in a year, plus it's free. enjoy.

 

[MarkV]

If you are not planning on planting until 2010 I would start dumping any organic matter I could find on the future garden bed. Plow or till it in as the weather allows and your soil will be much better. Next summer after you have worked the soil some have a soil test done which will guide you towards what is still needed. Acidic soil will need lime to balance the PH. Lime takes several months to adjust the PH so sooner is better than later. I'd get all that horse poo you can.

As far as the compost from the landfill goes I would use it if you can talk to the landfill operators to see what standards are used. Many landfills are composting and it ends up being what you buy in bags at the nursery.

MarkV

 

[jinman]

I agree with MarkV. Use the landfill compost after talking to them. I would not use the horse manure unless you are certain what the horses eat. Typically, manure can be full of weed seed and you will "import" every type of seed that was in the hay the horses eat. You can manage this, but plan on weeding more than if you go with the landfill compost. My favorite type of compost is cotton burr compost. If it's available in bulk in your area, I'd give some of it a try.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Horse poop, as much as you can get.

Very mild and very easy to work with once the flies are gone.
My entire garden is pure horse poop. I plant directly into it.
I have already tilled the poop and I am ready to plant once the ground thaws.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

The local landfill sells compost by the ton at a very reasonable price. However,

What is reasonable?
Bob

 

[jimmer2880]

What is reasonable?
Bob

I dont' remember exactly. Mulch is $15.00 per ton. I think the compost is a little more - perhaps $30.00 per ton.

 

[jimmer2880]

many thanks for all the good info. good point on importing weeds. He rides his horses regularly, so they frequently eat whatever is alongside the trail.

I will ask my landfill what they put in their compost. But - knowing the locals, I would be surprised if it DIDN'T have something bad in it and the landfill would never know.