Shredding addiction
 

Am slightly worried that my shredding is getting out of hand! Husband is
complaining cos he doesn't get a go!
The products of the shredding are my question - I've got a compost bin
(council) arriving tomorrow a metre tall apparently. Can I use all my
shredded stuff? Mainly ivy and mangy shrubs, I know I can't put weeds in it.
Should I be shredding dried and green separately do you think?
TIA

Shredding addiction
 

In article ,
"Chris Meech" writes:
|
| Am slightly worried that my shredding is getting out of hand! Husband is
| complaining cos he doesn't get a go!
| The products of the shredding are my question - I've got a compost bin
| (council) arriving tomorrow a metre tall apparently. Can I use all my
| shredded stuff? Mainly ivy and mangy shrubs, I know I can't put weeds in it.
| Should I be shredding dried and green separately do you think?

Well, I compost all that, together and unshredded. And why can't you put
weeds in it? I do.

Avoid weeds with mature seeds, but even the roots of ground elder and
couch rarely survive composting.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Shredding addiction
 

Husband is complaining ...

so shred him :)

--
Hayley
(gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset)

Shredding addiction
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"Chris Meech" writes:
|
| Am slightly worried that my shredding is getting out of hand! Husband
is
| complaining cos he doesn't get a go!
| The products of the shredding are my question - I've got a compost bin
| (council) arriving tomorrow a metre tall apparently. Can I use all my
| shredded stuff? Mainly ivy and mangy shrubs, I know I can't put weeds
in it.
| Should I be shredding dried and green separately do you think?

Well, I compost all that, together and unshredded. And why can't you put
weeds in it? I do.

Avoid weeds with mature seeds, but even the roots of ground elder and
couch rarely survive composting.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Totally agree with that but in my case I have found some seeds do not
compost regardless of what I do. Physalis (the blue one) seems to be
impervious to any type of composting. Perhaps it's a case of statistics
where a small percentage of uncomposted seeds
results in vast amounts of seedlings from the thousands of seeds introduced.
My method for nasty weeds and tree roots etc. is to use a separate heap
which rapidly changes to a wormery and might be ready in a few years.

Shredding addiction
 

"Chris Meech" wrote
Am slightly worried that my shredding is getting out of hand! Husband
is complaining cos he doesn't get a go!

Yes it's fun isn't it? And very satisfying turning a great bit heap of
prunings into more compost bin fodder. Turn a deaf ear and make him play
with the lawnmower instead. :-)

The products of the shredding are my question - I've got a compost bin
(council) arriving tomorrow a metre tall apparently. Can I use all my
shredded stuff? Mainly ivy and mangy shrubs, I know I can't put weeds
in it. Should I be shredding dried and green separately do you think?

Weeds are ok in the compost, just avoid the worst pernicious roots like
bindweed or couchgrass. I put everything shredded, all kitchen peelings
and uncooked vegetable waste, torn up cardboard and junk mail plus all
the weeds into my bins.

Can't see any reason not to shred dry and green material together. It
does seem best not to let pruned branches lie about too long to dry
right out before shredding as the end product heats up better and breaks
down faster when it starts off still green and leafy. If you have grass
mowings to go in, layering or mixing it with your shredded stuff helps
aerate that too.

--
Sue