Do thorns decompose?
 

My daughter (age 6) asked that as we trimmed the wild raspberries back (yet
again).

I find sources on line that say no or poorly. I'd try the experiment with
her, but she's a little young for a multiple year experiment. And previous
trimmings are not easily accessible - I've been taking them to the dump to
keep them out of my compost piles.

Cheryl

Yes, they do.

The same as any other woody plant material.

Bacteria are amazing critters that can metabolize any organic material,
including crude oil and plastics. Cellulose is not a problem for them.


"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...
My daughter (age 6) asked that as we trimmed the wild raspberries back
(yet
again).

I find sources on line that say no or poorly. I'd try the experiment with
her, but she's a little young for a multiple year experiment. And previous
trimmings are not easily accessible - I've been taking them to the dump to
keep them out of my compost piles.

Cheryl

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:11:34 -0400, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

My daughter (age 6) asked that as we trimmed the wild raspberries back (yet
again).

I find sources on line that say no or poorly. I'd try the experiment with
her, but she's a little young for a multiple year experiment. And previous
trimmings are not easily accessible - I've been taking them to the dump to
keep them out of my compost piles.

Cheryl

I have blackberries and before I prune them I drag a Scotch pad, those
green scruffy pads for pots and non-stick surfaces, up and down the
stems to open the thorns (so to speak). It helps give the bacteria
and fungi a place to enter and they decompose MUCH faster this way.
Otherwise, they will decompose eventually, but it takes a very long
time and if you reach into the pile you will get stuck up to a year
later. Especially if there are hard core thorns like Rosa rugosa.
Ouch!

Victoria

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 05:43:51 -0700, Bourne Identity
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:11:34 -0400, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

My daughter (age 6) asked that as we trimmed the wild raspberries back
(yet
again).

I find sources on line that say no or poorly. I'd try the experiment
with
her, but she's a little young for a multiple year experiment. And
previous
trimmings are not easily accessible - I've been taking them to the dump
to
keep them out of my compost piles.

Cheryl

I have blackberries and before I prune them I drag a Scotch pad, those
green scruffy pads for pots and non-stick surfaces, up and down the
stems to open the thorns (so to speak). It helps give the bacteria
and fungi a place to enter and they decompose MUCH faster this way.
Otherwise, they will decompose eventually, but it takes a very long
time and if you reach into the pile you will get stuck up to a year
later. Especially if there are hard core thorns like Rosa rugosa.
Ouch!

Victoria

They decompose fine.
Yes, it really helps if the vines are opened up to bacteria. If you don't
have a shredder, pile them up in your driveway and crush them with your
car by driving over the pile a few times.

Fritz

--
Fritz Oppliger

Thank you all!


I suspect they will keep going to the dump - I just don't have room for a
brush pile.

Cheryl