Robert Werth wrote:What was the approximate ratio of chips to manure?
(It's a little late for me to put down a fall cover crop (daytime temps typically 45-50, nighttime often 30-35) so I might just have to rely on whatever is on the ground now. Fortunately we have ladino clover on much of the target area already.)
Oh gosh, Robert, I'll have to make a guess. And probably add a little more information because we did have other sources of carbon involved.
The area we targeted was a strip of next to the garden where we'd planted fruit trees years before. It had been growing sorghum-sudan grass (and weeds!) all summer for hay. I broadcast the seed mix first, and then my husband cut the grass with our mulching mower to cover the seed.
It looks like it's been tilled, but it hasn't. The brown is the sorghum-sudan grass that dried out very quickly.
Then the manure. It contained quite a bit of old straw. I tried to pretty much cover the area with about an inch of manure.
Then the chips, as in the picture I already showed you. If I had to guess, I'd say it was roughly 40% manure and 60% wood chips plus the other sources of carbon I mentioned. Still heavy on the nitrogen and not a very scientific way to do it. It was an experiment, and I just used what I had!
I agree it's not a good time of year to plant, but that that often seems to be the way of it. We do what we can, when we can. That ladino clover is a plus. Every little bit helps!