[Arid_gardener] Re: Converting Horse Corral to Vegetable Garden

[Olin Miller]

The top manure/hay layer should not be a problem if it is worked into the
soil, but it is a bit unusual.  One usually picks up the horse manure daily,
especially in the summertime, to control problems with flies.

The soil in a small horse corral becomes compacted .  Our corral which has
not had horses in it for 8 years will not even grow weeds except in a few
low areas..  You will need to break the compaction mechanically.  Few
rototillers can till deeply enough, not even the over-hyped Troybilts..  I
would first test the drainage by digging a hole down to 18 inches, more if
necessary, and fill it with water..  Then, depending on drainage, either
loosen the soil in the entire area with pick and shovel to a depth that has
good drainage.  Or if the area is too big, hire somebody with a tractor and
plow.

If your hard, white soil is a caliche layer, it will need to be removed or
have drainage holes punched through it, probably not worth the effort unless
it is a small area.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: <dodle at cox.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 9:04 AM
> Dorothy Odle,  85355
> I wish to begin a garden in a particular place in my yard that had
> previously been a horse corral.
>    The ground is especially hard and white underneath the top 6 inches of
> hay and manure.
>     Will I be able to ammend the soil with this long collection of animal
> use?
>     thank you for your service.