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Arcola, IL, USA

Hello, I have a place near my home town that grinds leaves, grass and grinds sticks and tree limbs into small pieces. They have a huge pile of this stuff. would anyone suggest putting something like this on the garden for compost like material. Its not broke down like compost yet, but it is aged.

2/12/2006 11:31:54 PM

ENGLAND

Growler
The leaves and grass, once composted, would be ideal for the Patch or if fresh added in the Fall and allowed to decompose in the soil. The Sticks and Tree Limbs once ground, or chipped as i imagine they would be, take a very long time to break down into a substance that would be benefficial to the soil. The ground, or chipped, Sticks & Tree Limb material is usually used as a landscaping mulch and acts as a weed block on the soil surface. If this combination on materials is very finely ground then it would be best to stack it and allow it to decompose and geep adding Green Material as it is breaking down as this will keep the heap 'Working' and alive.

Just my thoughts.

Regards
Mike

2/13/2006 5:32:55 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

From my experience, I'd steer clear of anything with uncomposted wood matter in it. As it continues to break down and compost, it will take nitrogen at an amazing rate and rob your soil of other nutrients when you need them most.

I made this mistake early on when expanding my patch and learned from my mistake. Nothing goes in now with wood chips that are not composted enough.

Same thing with manure, if it is not composted...I don't add it.

2/14/2006 11:58:26 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Also, the "stuff" that your town gathers and composts comes from a variety of sources (homes, city waste, golf courses etc...) so you never know what they have been using or adding to fend off bugs and disease. Again, I won't use our city compost for just that reason...you may be bringing in other peoples problems.

2/15/2006 12:01:11 AM

Arcola, IL, USA

Thanks for you input. Sounds like I'm staying clear of the stuff.

2/16/2006 7:30:53 AM

Sheridan . NY

I would suggest if you have space-- to get a large pile--!!--and let it compost at your place--keep a pile done and ready to go a year a head all the time-- drench the heck out out of it with molasses fish--and symbex if you have it -----

2/16/2006 7:44:56 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If it has any walnut leaves or wood, avoid it like the plague. It has juglone which will kill your plants. That is why I can't use my own leaves even though I have 10 acres of timber. Over half of my trees are walnuts and they are scattered everywhere.

2/16/2006 8:19:47 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Craig L. and anyone else, everyone seems to be concerned with the bad stuff in it...will the composting process, make the bad stuff go away? Peace, Wayne

2/16/2006 7:59:06 PM

Sheridan . NY

Composting will break just about any thing down---the balance of good bio and bad help the good and bad bactieras --fungie--make a even balance for a war that goes on in the soil and compost naturally all the time --when the bad wins the disease take over the soil and the compost dies right along with the plant---complete composting will break down any thing---craig

2/16/2006 9:42:08 PM