Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
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. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"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 |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"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 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
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. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
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. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Composting anything was Composting ivy | United Kingdom | |||
Brown Leilandii Confiers!! | United Kingdom | |||
Composting | United Kingdom | |||
Composting "other" material | Gardening | |||
old potting soil for composting pile? | Gardening |