Composting Confiers
 

Hi,

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to the
trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all the fine
"droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them over the
coming months.

Is this a good idea?

Peter Hemmings wrote:
Hi,

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to
the trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all
the fine "droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would
compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them
over
the coming months.

Is this a good idea?

Yes: they take longer to break down, that's all.

--
Mike.

"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
Peter Hemmings wrote:
Hi,

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to
the trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all
the fine "droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would
compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them
over
the coming months.

Is this a good idea?

Yes: they take longer to break down, that's all.

and they tend to dry out faster than other stuff composted, so keep it
watered. It is also a good idea to well and truly mix it with other
material.

we have just taken 4 full wheelbarrow fulls from our beehive compost bin and
spread it as a lovely mulch/top dressing on the raised veg beds and one the
flower borders.

Mike

--
H.M.S.Collingwood Ass. Llandudno 20 - 23 May Trip to Portmeirion
National Service (RAF) Ass. Cosford 24 - 27 June Spitfire Fly Past
H.M.S.Impregnable Ass. Sussex 1 - 4 July Visit to Int. Fest of the Sea
RAF Regiment Assoc. Scarborough 2 - 5 Sept. Visit to Eden Camp

"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
Peter Hemmings wrote:
Hi,

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to
the trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all
the fine "droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would
compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them
over
the coming months.

Is this a good idea?

Yes: they take longer to break down, that's all.

--
Mike.



as long as they only form 10% of the total it should be fine otherwise you
will have a nasty acidic compost

In article ,
Mike Lyle wrote:
Peter Hemmings wrote:

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to
the trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all
the fine "droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would
compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them
over
the coming months.

Is this a good idea?

Yes: they take longer to break down, that's all.

Well, my experience is "no". Yes, compost them, by all means, but
make a separate bin. They take so long to break down that they are
a real pain in a more general cycle - and I compost 1/2" woody
prunings! What I would do is to have a bin of primarily conifer
stuff, with some kitchen waste well mixed in, and ensure that it is
kept damp and aerated. When it eventually breaks down, it will be
the ideal material for using for lime-hating plants.

However, as with most aspects of composting, all of the methods work!
It is very, very hard to get irredeemiably wrong!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thanks for the replies.
As the conifer droppings are from the last 15 years and seem to be quite
broken down, I will keep most of the old stuff and gradually add it to
the rest. I will also use some as a top dressingfor a pieris in our
garden which is neutral pH.

On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 12:12:58 +0000, Mike wrote:

snip

Yes: they take longer to break down, that's all.

and they tend to dry out faster than other stuff composted, so keep it
watered. It is also a good idea to well and truly mix it with other
material.

we have just taken 4 full wheelbarrow fulls from our beehive compost bin and
spread it as a lovely mulch/top dressing on the raised veg beds and one the
flower borders.

Mike

On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 07:52:52 +0000, Peter Hemmings
wrote:

Hi,

I have had two large conifers cut down (one was a Leylandi).
There is also a row of the very small leaf hedge which were next to the
trees. I have quire qn active compost bin and wondered if all the fine
"droppings" (which have accumulated over years) would compost OK.
I have about 3 barrow loads and was going to gradually add them over the
coming months.

Is this a good idea?

If it's an accumulation of conifer and other leaf droppings etc. over
several years, it will already be partially rotted. Why not use it
directly as a mulch?

When I shred Leylandii prunings I bag them up in old polythene sacks.
After twelve months they go back on the garden as a thick mulch (say
2"). They've mostly gone, twelve months after that.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Nick Maclaren wrote:

Well, my experience is "no". Yes, compost them, by all means, but
make a separate bin. They take so long to break down that they are
a real pain in a more general cycle - and I compost 1/2" woody
prunings! What I would do is to have a bin of primarily conifer
stuff, with some kitchen waste well mixed in, and ensure that it is
kept damp and aerated. When it eventually breaks down, it will be
the ideal material for using for lime-hating plants.

However, as with most aspects of composting, all of the methods work!
It is very, very hard to get irredeemiably wrong!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In general, I would agree. Conifer prunings do take a lot longer than other
ingredients. However, I've had excellent success with them when I've
shredded the prunings and mixed them with grass clippings. Composted this
way, they have taken no longer than the other ingredients to rot down. I
also add as much recycled beer as I can produce. ;)