Shredded paper

Hampshire_Hog

Anyone dig or rotavate shredded paper directly into the ground?

I have a number of extra bags of paper and I'm about to rotavate and area for my brassicas and was thinking of adding the paper directly as I go any ideas?? anyone.

I do add shredded paper to my compost heap as a norm but have more than usual.

Lizzie27

Good idea, shouldn't think it will do any harm at all, I'd go ahead.

herbaceous

I do it all the time @Hampshire_Hog, bottom of the runner bean trench, potato trench and just recently in a big hole in my herb garden for some new herbs ( daughter took me to Jekka's Farm for Mothering Sunday - Oooooh). It breaks down really quickly as there is no sign of it by the time I dig the potatoes.

barry island

As the rotavator blades churn the soil up will the shredded paper stay under the soil or will some lay on top, I may not be using my rotavator correctly but I can't see it working?

herbaceous

I don't have a rotavator @barry island but if I'm using a fork I make sure the ground+shredded paper is thoroughly soaked first. That stops it moving all over the place but you do need to mix it up before wetting as the paper clumps otherwise. Then I wait a while to let it drain a bit and carry on forking.

Hampshire_Hog

I will give it ago over the weekend and let you all know,
I would think the rotavator would mix it in enough we are not talking huge amounts just a couple of dustbin bags over about 25 square meters the area has green manure growing on it at the moment so that will be rotavated in at the same time.

Obelixx

Have you thought of using it in a lasagna process?  No rotavating, just layers of specific materials designed to suppress weeds and improve soil fertility.

Hampshire_Hog

Obelixx ; I originally wanted  to use the no dig method but having looked into it and taken some expert advice it was decided the ground was just to compacted, so it was rotavated in the autumn and a deep rooted green manure sown this should of helped break up the hard pan below by now and as I have this surplus paper I thought I would incorporate it and rotavate it in, grow the brassicas then next spring the ground should be nicely broken up and I can build the beds and start a no dig system.

Obelixx

Good luck then.

Fire

I use shredded paper a lot in composting too.

Hampshire_Hog

Got round to rotavating the green manure and shredded paper at the allotment was going to do it at the weekend but was to hot.

Added four black bin liners full of paper passed over the area about ten times then watered it just to stop any stray bit's blowing away but have to say most of it has gone in.

The area is about 8 mt x 5 mt and the picture I took about half way through.

Had to stop for a ☕ & 🍩