I don't know about composting in bags, but I CAN tell you that we have for many years applied FRESH horse manure to our roses, and they LOVE it.

Be cautious to NOT pile the stuff up right against the canes.
Use it as a mulch, and water it in well.

The manure smell is gone by the next day. (I checked that, with the neighbors. )

Jeri

Don't want to use fresh manure due to possible pathogens would rather use composted.

Composting requires oxygen. If you can provide enough holes in the old manure bags to permit gasses to escape and oxygen to enter, you may be able to accomplish your goal. If it's the higher level of urea (urine, nitrogen) you're desiring to reduce, spreading it out on the ground and watering it to flush out the urine works best. That also exposes it to oxygen, permits the transfer of gasses and all, too, but I do understand your room issue. If you can create a bin with chicken wire sides to pile it in to, then turn it several times to expose more of it to the outside, you can compost it in a few weeks. Usually, having two or three bins, side by side so you shovel it from one bin, into the next, helps you turn it all over thoroughly. Again, though, room may prevent that. Good luck. Kim

I also use fresh. I've been doing it for years and have had no problems. What pathogens are you worried about?

While these are found in low levels there is E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacteriosis, Cryptosporidiosis, and Leptospirosis. While fresh works for you, I am not comfortable with that.

I plan on putting small holes at the top and bottom of bag for O2 and water. Should I place the bags in the sun or shade?

When I am able to nag my son into taking me out w/his pickup and get some, we just dump that fresh stuff right in the garden and shove it around...I'm not worried abt. any pathogens, I'm not planning on taking it into the house or eating it, I'll let the bugs that are already out there deal w/.them.......sally

Fresh manure works for some people but not for me. I won't even eat under cook beef, its well done or nada. I am picky about some things, when it comes to certain bacteria and viruses I rather not take the chance.

HAHAHA!!! My dad grew up in an English household, and the only way he had ever eaten beef was well-done.

When he joined the Navy, just before WWII, his friends took him to a famous San Francisco steak house. He said, everyone ordered their steak rare, or extra-rare -- but he of course said "Well done."

Moments later, an enraged chef charged out of the kitchen, meat cleaver in hand, roaring: "WHO ordered a steak well-done?"

My dad quickly altered his order to rare, and discovered a whole new world of food taste.
====

Each to his own. No meat cleavers here.

If you're not comfortable with fresh manure, you can avoid it entirely.

You might be far more comfortable with something like Alfalfa Tea -- which will give the roses a straight dose of plant growth hormones. You can almost watch them react to it -- and while it smells (IMHO) far worse than fresh horse, you would skip the "Ick Factor." :-)

Jeri

My friend and I joke all the time when it comes to microorganism. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, acids no problems but bacteria, fungi and viruses, there are times when I wish I had chosen a different profession. Anyway, precautions will be taken as I always do with certain items just want to make sure I "cook" it right before using.

Most pathogens in manure will be killed in about 4 weeks if the manure is warm (40ðC or 86ðF.) That is not particularly hot for active compost. My horses' manure/ stall leavings get hotter than that in the wheelbarrow overnight before I even get it to the compost pile. Three days at 55ðC (131ðF) gets the job done as well--131ð is a more respectable number to get a compost pile to.

The other thing that kills pathogens is a dry environment. When manure is used as mulch and is spread out once it dries the life span of pathogens is about a week.

The risks here are pretty minimal since we're not talking about a food crop. Even if you want to compost what you have the time frame and the heat needed are minimal if what you are concerned about are pathogens.

This post was edited by subk3 on Tue, May 28, 13 at 23:11

I figure I would use it for fall. Depending on how much I can bag, the rest would be used in the spring. I have two spot that I can place them, one in full sun and the other in mostly shade. According to what I've read, the compost could be ready to use by September. Next year, I plan on planting edible herbs and maybe fruit.

Mori for crops the National Organic Program standards for the use of fresh manure on crops is 90 days before harvest. The "ick factor" may not be as significant as most people think.

I know, working with manure doesn't me and I don't find it icky. I grew up in Nebraska. However, knowing what could be possible, I just rather be safe then sorry.