The message
from "nambucca" contains these words:



AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


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Its much much better to add the shreddings to your compost bin that way you
get a good mix of nutrients

I understand that, in a perfect world and with more time at my disposal,
this would be the best thing to do. At the moment, however, until I
retire etc, I could do with one or two short-cuts.
Another advantage of putting the ivy shreddings straight onto the beds
is that they should be weed-free whereas the same doesn't apply to my
compost heap. I'm really wanting to know whether I'm creating any
problems for myself in the spring, i.e. that there will be no benefit at
all or even that I might have reduced fertility.
If there is *some* benefit, given the ease of the procedure, then that
will make it worth my while.

Thanks
Janet G