In article ,
ex@directory says...
On 10/09/08 13:24, Charlie Pridham wrote:
In article ,
says...
I have been told that I must pick up all clippings from a privet hedge
if they fall in a flower border, on the grounds that the cutting inhibit
growth of other plants. I suspect this is an old wife's tale. Is there
any substance to it?

unless they are actually on top of plants they will do no harm, the "It
will take nitrogen from the soil" statement is technically possible but
in practice never happens as there is plenty of nitrogen in the air


Indeed, air is mainly nitrogen.

Even so, plants cannot absorb this gaseous nitrogen through their leaves.

Plants get their nitrogen from amonia, nitrates and nitrites in the soil.

Ed






Plants might, but these are not plants but dead plants and its the
bacteria that need the nitrogen for the initial stages of break down and
they will take it from any handy source, later on this same nitrogen is
realeased which is one of the reasons fully rotted compost is good for
the garden (it also adds humus and many other micro organisms)
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea