From

Location

Message

Date Posted

DeWitt, Iowa

i am going to get some cow manure on my patch but its going to be fresh. could i throw alfalfa hay on it instead of leaves?

11/22/2009 6:04:58 PM

Ohio

Alfalfa hay is nitrogen (green material) leaves are carbon (brown material). You could use straw instead of leaves but leaves would be best.

11/22/2009 6:14:48 PM

DeWitt, Iowa

even if its baled and dry?

11/22/2009 6:53:16 PM

DeWitt, Iowa

ok i can pry get leaves but i was just wondering bcuz my uncles a farmer.

11/22/2009 7:35:20 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Grant,

Alfalfa hay is dehydrated green material and is higher in nitrogen than straw or leaves, although your thought process is correct. Adding some complex carbon material (hay, straw, leaves) is a great way to suck up the free nitrogen in the fresh manure you want to apply this fall. Try to get manure with lots of bedding if you can, rather than manure like out of a dairy barn gutter with very little bedding. The looser the manure, the less you should put on.
If all you can get is hay, try to get some grassier stuff if you can, but straw or leaves would be a better choice.
If you blow all your pumpkins up next year, you will know you went too heavy!

11/22/2009 7:47:00 PM

DeWitt, Iowa

ahaha ok well my grandpa owns woods so i can get some leaves. Just sounded easier will a bail of alfalfa.

11/22/2009 8:43:06 PM

Ohio

If you need leaves, ask neighbors to help them with their leaves or get them from the city leaf collection dept. I can get all the leaves I need from a neighbor's maple trees and he's happy to give them. He blows them into piles for me I just collect them.

11/22/2009 9:11:03 PM

DeWitt, Iowa

ok and i live in a smaller town there isnt a city leaf collection. thanks

11/22/2009 9:17:15 PM