I wouldn't worry about it, it's probably the lack of oxygen during the whole mixing, bagging, palleting, transporting, de-palleting, and hauling it home process that probably took 6 weeks.

I should think that it will be just ok.

I bought about 15 bags of composted steer manure for my garden this year. Only one of them had a terrible putrid smell, don't know why. I did plant a fruit tree using some sewage sludge based planting mix onetime, and the tree died. When I dug it up the roots had rotted off and a terrible smell came from the hole. I will never use anything with sewage sludge in it again, even though they claim it is composted and odorless.

californian wrote:
"I will never use anything with sewage sludge in it again, even though they claim it is composted and odorless."

It was the sewage sludge that stunk.

It was the fact that the stuff was anaerobic. Someone left it out in the rain (or other water), it got soaked, then didn't drain.

chris,

You wrote:
"Sort of a gassy, anaerobic smell like rotten vegetables or swamp or something "

Same answer as for californian. The stuff got too wet, didn't dry out, and became anaerobic. Those "swamp smelling" gases can kill plants. Wait til the stuff airs out before you plant.

As jean stated, the bagged material somehow got wet and as in anaerobic digestion. If the stuff smells of ammonia it has undigested Nitrogen in it, if it just smells putrid the anaerobic bacteria are working hard. Will it harm plants? It depends on a number of things.

Will it harm plants? It depends on a number of things.

Keeping us in suspense?

Checked my beds this morning. The daylilies, lavender, pinks and coreopsis that got this stuff are all happy.

Thanks, all

Don't put any of the crap you buy in a bag in a planting hole, put it on top and walk away.

Thank you, esther. In this case, I needed to change the shape of the bed a bit for reasons that are irrelevant to this thread. I didn't have spare soil sitting around, hence my decision to add bagged "crap" to this bed.

If you noticed I said don't put it in the soil. If you spread it out and water it then allow it to dry for a couple of days it will be fine as top dressing. Shape with existing soil and top dress.

Anaerobic bacteria will die off and become food for aerobic bacteria when the conditions are right. If you let the stuff air out a bit, it should be fine...

Anaerobes aren't bad, they just smell that way.