"nambucca" wrote in message
...

"H Ryder" wrote in message
...
Can I spread "raw" shreddings out of a garden shredder as a mulch or do
i
need to compost it first please? I had some idea that spreading it
uncomposted would affect teh nitrogen content of the soil but was not
sure.
Thanks,
Hayley


If you spread shreddings raw they will indeed rob the soil of nitrogen etc

Compost them with grass cuttings, weeds, shredded paper /carboard and
horse
manure/ stable clearings plus lashings of night water ............mix well
and turn into another compost bin in 3 months then again in another 3
months
............then by a year you should have pretty good compost which you
can
spread .........Jan /feb is the best time to pile it on


I always spread mine green and am far from convinced that much nitrogen is
robbed from the soil as its on the surface surrounded by air which is around
70% nitrogen. And it is a lot less work! It may well be different if buried.
but it does make lovely compost if you have the energy :~)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)