The composted manure that I buy from a local landscape supply (delivered by the truckload, $35 a cubic yard) doesnt smell anything but rich and earthy - not a "manure" smell.

If it is aged composted manure it shouldn't "smell" - and its great for the both mixing into the soil and for laying on top as a "mulch".

Perhaps you planted too tightly in your space? That sounds like an awful lot of plants for the size you state, assuming you had some paths in there. Powdery mildew is very often caused by poor air circulation caused by overcrowding. Just a thought...

I have found that if I have compost that isn't completely broken down, I can speed it up by laying it on top of the beds and then turning it in. This should be done 2 to 4 weeks before planting. Cover the whole lot of it with mulch and that will speed it up even more. When you are ready to plant it's like a miracle. The one caution is if you put weed seeds into your pile, it could be chancey...

In our area, the landfill sells compost and I have never known it to smell. Sometimes it has weedy roots in it, but if you pay attention, you can rake them out.

Next fall, try planting a cover crop. It's called green manure for a reason and it has no smell....

What do you mean by a cover crop? I'll take you up on your suggestion by top dressing with the partially broken down compost and covering it with mulch.

Cover crops are plants that you grow for a short while, then turn them into the soil. Primarily, they are legumes, which fix nitrogen in their root systems. If you turn them back in before they flower (which is when they start to use that stored nitrogen), it will rot back into the soil. And of course, the plant material itself adds lots of good organic material. If you Google "cover crops", you'll get lots of information. Since you live in New Jersey, the times you plant them may be different from me.

If you're in an area that has it, Mushroom soil is great...It should be available around Philly, but I'm not sure about further north...

Mine comes from Kennett Square, PA

To replenish soil: Compost/Woodash.. If you dont have enough compost, compost more... Have a few piles at various stages.. If you dint want to deal with compost you could mulch with leaves,woodchips,etc and as they breakdown they will replenish the soil... Use Compost for macro nutrients(NPK,etc) and for microorganisms, fertility,etc.. Use woodash to replenish the trace nutrients... Compost compost compost. Mulch mulch mulch. It's all about the compost and mulch and recycling nutrients back into the soil. replyd to your other thread as well..

Hope you find this helpful,
Joe