What do I do with this?

I let my neighbors use the barn and they never cleaned up after their horses. I have hay, manure, etc that has been in my barn for over 3 yrs. Theres like 4 yrs worth of this. Can I put this directly into my bed? I shoveled the urinated stuff out and onto the weeds. I put some of it in my compost pile and should have my first batch of compost (ever) in a couple weeks (hope all the grubs are gone by then). I have sandy-loam soil and want to have a happy home for worms and of course for my flowers :)

I would find some where to sit it aside if you can,may be too hot to put right on a bed,sounds like you have a mees and a gold mine rolled in one,sorry you had to doo the clean up.

I have plenty of room to set it outside. I have mostly full sun no matter where I put it. Would shade be better?
I will get some worms and make a new compost pile :) I just have to put it outta the way from my DH. This is my first year making compost. Looking at that big mess in my barn gave me the idea.

I read your "Compost 101" under organic gardening. VERY informative. Thanks for sharing your wonderful wisdom and all your help!

If that stuff has been sitting for 3-4 years already, it's about as composted as it's going to get as manure. I wouldn't hesitate to use it directly in the garden.

What I would do is spread it on the surface of your garden, being sure that no plants touched it directly. Then this fall you can till it in to help create a happy home for the micro-herd.

Think I'll try some around my 4 O'clocks. Which need something! Are still only about 1 1/2" and almost 4 wks outta the ground.

I'd pile it all aside somewhere,sun or shade and let it sit.YMO.

There is so much, I can make several piles. It won't matter if I lose the 4 O'clocks as it seems they have finished growing
:( must be all that sand!

Thanks to both of you :)

I'm with Brook on this one. If it is 3 to 4 yrs. old, then it is perfectly good to use. I have always been told horse manure should be 1 yr. old before using too much of it in one bed. I am thinking of side dressing with some I've got.

My DH was pulling passion vine, briars, and poision ivy away from the barn and there was what looks like compost. I used that on the 4 O'clocks and put the horse stuff around some shrubs I just got received making sure none of it touched the bark. Maybe they'll all perk up :)

In Florida the worms really like it if you put composted material down in your flower beds then cover it with a nice cover of shredded (or unshredded) oak leaves. The leaves make a nice mulch and help hold in moisture. The composted material draws the worms and the worms also eat the leaves making even better compost.

Delisa

I never have enough leaves

Delisa, I have some leaves that are probably some what decomposed already. Think I will add some of those to all my beds today and around my shrubs as well. That is a great idea :) Thanks!!