If you have the time, you can take a hammer to them and simply bang them "open"
so the pulp is going to touch the compost. The organisms can more easily get
into the branch and break them down.

When I cut down my ornamental grasses and perennials I put them in a shallow
pile and run over them with the lawn mower. I don't put anything larger than a
pencil twig in there, but it greatly reduces the bulk and it breaks down rather
quickly. I put this all back on the bed so it can break down slowly around the
plants and I cover it with fresh mulch every year. I get my mulch free when
they shred xmas trees.


On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 01:58:30 -0500, "Noctaire" wrote:

I have a pile of sticks and tree limbs from some trees we cut down along a
fenceline. I had a chipper shredder on loan for a while but could not get
the time to get through them all -- I've left 'em in this pile for over a
year and they're still intact.

I'd REALLY like to encourage these puppies to break down so I can add some
topsoil and even the area out for some PLANNED plantings rather than the
unexpected ones (like pokeweed, which by the way has taken over a large area
of my yard these days). Any suggestions on how to get these breaking down
without renting a chipper shredder?

James

"Noctaire" wrote in message ...
I have a pile of sticks and tree limbs from some trees we cut down along a
fenceline. I had a chipper shredder on loan for a while but could not get
the time to get through them all -- I've left 'em in this pile for over a
year and they're still intact.

I'd REALLY like to encourage these puppies to break down so I can add some
topsoil and even the area out for some PLANNED plantings rather than the
unexpected ones (like pokeweed, which by the way has taken over a large area
of my yard these days). Any suggestions on how to get these breaking down
without renting a chipper shredder?

James

They have to be in contact with something moist. I use those things to
add a bit of humus to the lawn. I just lay them on the lawn and mow
them. For less than half inch thickness, you can do it without damage
to the mower. Once they lay down flat in the grass, they break down
rapidly.

You blew it. You should have used the shredder when you had it. Wood will
eventually break down if in contact with the soil (not buried), but it takes
a long time. Eventually or solar system will break down also, but that will
take even longer.

--
Compostman
Washington, DC
Zone 7
"Noctaire" wrote in message
...
I have a pile of sticks and tree limbs from some trees we cut down along a
fenceline. I had a chipper shredder on loan for a while but could not get
the time to get through them all -- I've left 'em in this pile for over a
year and they're still intact.

I'd REALLY like to encourage these puppies to break down so I can add some
topsoil and even the area out for some PLANNED plantings rather than the
unexpected ones (like pokeweed, which by the way has taken over a large
area
of my yard these days). Any suggestions on how to get these breaking down
without renting a chipper shredder?

James

On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 08:38:54 -0700, (paghat)
wrote:

Even with sundry little uses found, there has nevertheless accumulated a
pile of woody twigs & limbs barely too thick to compost -- not so much as
to justify renting a chipper, but a bit much for cutting by hand into
kindling-lengths or mulchy fragments. So if you ever do discover a quick
& easy method of recycling limbs through the compost without a chipper,
let me know!

I cut /chop them up as much as I can and put them in the compost, the
ones that don't break down completely are sifted out and put back in the
next batch...or I don't sift them out and spread them with the compost.
Many of my beds are woodland-natural so larger pieces blend in and look
like they belong

Garrapata wrote:

...I cut /chop them up as much as I can and put them in the compost, the
ones that don't break down completely are sifted out and put back in the
next batch...or I don't sift them out and spread them with the compost.
Many of my beds are woodland-natural so larger pieces blend in and look
like they belong.

The sticks start to get soft over the winter in the compost pile if
they're not really thick. If you rototill your compost in, the tiller
will break some of the sticks up in the process. They will compost in
the soil just fine.

The process of composting requires nitrogen (green stuff) and carbon
(brown stuff). Putting too much carbon (e.g. dead sticks) in will tie up
the nitrogen (temporarily) while the dead sticks (carbon) break down.
Once the sticks are composted the nitrogen will be available again. The
speed of the process depends on the surface area of the carboniferous
component. Sticks will tie up some of the nitrogen, but something really
fine like sawdust will tie up much more of the nitrogen and may inhibit
plant growth. For this reason you want to make sure that animal manure
containing fine bedding such as wood shavings or sawdust gets well
composted before applying it to your garden. Sticks are generally not a
problem unless there is nothing else in your "compost".