Bulk manure - chicken and cow

[Lyn H]

Does anyone have contacts for bulk manure purchases,as well as mulching hay?

[Donna]

Not sure about Manure... although I believe out Redlands way there are lots of side of the road cheap bags.

Sugar cane mulch bales are available around Cabbage Tree Point/ Jacobs Well area. If you are able to wait, Scarlett will be able to tell you one to avoid as she recently purchased a bale that had bird mites in it - I think she has guests this week and is on holidays.

I called the local tree loppers regarding hardwood mulch recently and am getting free 'green' mulch but this is not suitable for gardens until it has been aged. I deliberately want 'green' as it is supposed to kill the existing grass due to nitrogen draw down. There was another guy who sells 'aged' mulch for $12 per cube min 10 cube + $50 delivery.

If you were wanting to plant immediately, it may be better to look at buying compost rather than manure - manure will need to break down and if you use too much could cause problems due to excessive nutrients. Am pretty sure Scarlett bought compost at a reasonable rate from somewhere in Darra, might be worth ringing around for prices.

[Lyn H]

Thanks for info. Have ordered hay, chook poo pellets and cow manure from Goodna Produce. Will find out tomorrow if any good.

[Donna]

I am interested in the price - at the moment I have been getting from Bunnings, think hubby said dynamic lifter was $18 for a large bag that says it does 175 sq m (but I always put heaps on and don't measure properly - a couple of handfuls scattered - maybe a bit more - yeah that looks right lol).

[Lyn H]

If you do a search on dynamic lifter you will find that it basically dissolves into sand - not many gardeners recommend it. I read a few forums today before buying the manure. You may be better using blood and bone, manures and good compost. Worm tea from a worm farm is amazing stuff!!
Straw is $9 per bale, cow manure $7.50 - 20 litres (about 20kg) and chook pellets $13.50 for 25kg.

[Florence]

I wish I knew where to get bulk manure too ~ If you saw my June blog I am in the process of renovating my parents' garden and building a few veggie beds, so will need bulk materials to fill them up ^__^

[Lyn H]

Composting is great for vege beds. Arrowroot helps break down a busy compost within weeks. Worm castings and worm tea are a great help too. I have visited many Community Gardens recently and they all have really big compost systems and use cow and chook manure. You can buy by the tonne from places such as Centenary Landscape Supplies and Sapar. I probably haven't done the most cost effective buying but as usual, I'm in a rush!! Back to work on Monday and need to organise now.

[christopher zane hart]

if you are going t o pay $9 for hay get lucerne for the same price its much better than straw or hay .

[Lyn H]

I would love to buy lucerne at $9 a bale but the cheapest is $14. Fingers crossed it is good quality hay :)

[christopher zane hart]

try redcliffe produce ask for mulching lucerne its normaly $9. but if it has become very wet after a big rain as now he will go as low as $5 if you buy a few , its still good for mulching and composting but not for animal foder . Any mulch is better than no mulch , but the main difference in lucerne is that the high protien content of lucerne feeds bacteria with nitrogen and phosphorus so that the mulch does not become a nitrogen robber . to a lesser extent the same goes for sugar cane mulch . straw and hay needs to be mixed with animal manures to balance this out , But we may infact be talking about the same thing sometimes lucerne is reffered to as hay .

[Lyn H]

Hi and thanks for your response. My straw was delivered this morning - and straw it is. Sadly I just don't have the time to shop around so the straw will have to do. I am building a no dig garden, using straw, organic chicken pellets and organic composted cow manure. It's looking good already :) I have also just set up a compost and have worm tea as well, so hopefully in a few months I'll be able to brag with a few pics.

[christopher zane hart]

well straw / lawn clippings /wood shavings etc mixed with organic chicken pellets and organic cow manure will be a fantastic base for any garden , i use the lucerne as a straight mulch becouse it is not a nitrogen depleter

[Lyn H]

I'm going to try a few local coffee shops for spent ground coffee - heaps of nitrogen in it. Vege's love a strong coffee :)