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Mulched weeds

Ryanbailey80Ryanbailey80 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I'm about to mulch the piles of ivy, brambles and small branches ive cut down in my garden but wondering if there's any use for these mulched horrors? Otherwise I will take to the local refuse centre. Thanks!

Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Do you mean shred? Mulching is when you spread a layer of stuff over the soil. Whatever you do, don't put ivy or brambles down, they will root! The branches and twigs can be shredded and composted or put directly onto the soil.
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,884
    I don’t use brambles for anything, they get dumped, the thorns stay the soil and seem to get more brittle the older they get.  
    I don’t put ivy on the compost heap as it takes too long to break down. So for me, both are dumped.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Ryanbailey80Ryanbailey80 Posts: 2
    Thanks for your feedback. Sorry, I meant I'm going to hire a chipper and it's the proceeds of that I'm wondering what to do with. From sounds of things I'll be taking a few trips to the tip.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I have so much ivy and no transport so have to compost everything like this.  It can be done but the ivy has to be finely shredded (I use an impact shedder and keep the blades sharp) as well as being mixed with plenty of general green stuff and some compost accelerator ('recycled' beer.)  ;) Takes about a year and the compost needs turning a few times but is good stuff in the end.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Ryanbailey80 said:
    Thanks for your feedback. Sorry, I meant I'm going to hire a chipper and it's the proceeds of that I'm wondering what to do with. From sounds of things I'll be taking a few trips to the tip.
    I spent months dealing with ivy - save yourself hassle and get it off to the council 👍
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,884
    Our chipper doesn’t like floppy greenery, we have a very quick turn over of compost that it doesn’t break down, so we dump it. As I said before, bramble prickles in the soil everytime you plant something, not good. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,311
    Everything goes through my shredder, never noticed stuff regrowing except from seed


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,279
    Brambles and small branches shred well. Keep the shreddings in a separate pile, then in Spring mix well with equal quantity of grass cuttings and your veg peelings from the winter. I find that it then heats uo and makes good compost.
    Ivy, I send to the tip or if dry, it burns really well in an incinerator, you can add the ash to the compost heap.
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