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Composting

Lawnmower ChrisLawnmower Chris Posts: 54
in Problem solving

This weekend I pruned my Euonymous emerald 'n' green & was hesitant on putting the cuttings in the 'darlek' to compost down as they have a bit of a waxy feel to them.

Do they compost well?

What other type of prunings DO NOT ie Laurel, Photina, Camelia?

Thanks.

Chris

Posts

  • WintersongWintersong Posts: 2,436

    All of the above are evergreen, a leaf that is higher in carbon with very woody stems so you should shred them ideally, or at least chop them a bit and take out anything larger than 1/4 inch diameter. If its a trouble to snap or sheer, its too bigimage

    Also, don't bulk up on this type of material too much, its slower to decompose. image

  • Lawnmower ChrisLawnmower Chris Posts: 54

    Thank you Wintersong.

    Are there any types of shrub leaves/prunings you wouldn't put in the compost bin?

  • WintersongWintersong Posts: 2,436

    Anything too acidic or citrus plants in general will upset the good bacteria and apart from the well versed no-nos of cooked or treated products, don't add anything that is diseased, looks like a perennial weed or has a lot o seeds because generally speaking, our homegrown compost doesn't get hot enough to kill these things.image

  • backyardeebackyardee Posts: 132

    I tend to avoid taxus / yew or any conifer prunings. They take too long to break down and the taxus is toxic to animals. And I have poultry that get the run of the plot from Oct to Mar. So yew is a no-no.

    And any leathery evergreens also take too long to compost, so I tend to burn all my prunings. 

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731

    It's said that bay and eucalypt leaves shouldn't be composted as they contain a growth-inhibiting enzyme. Pity, because bays grow like weeds here in Tuscany. Anyway, I've never tested the theory and don't plan to.

  • gardeningfanticgardeningfantic Posts: 1,019

    i throw everything into my compost except for the bineweed and ivy.. we empty ours every year and add to garden.. and we got 8 x80 litre bags full t his time round.. so have saved some for spring mulching..  i find anything that has not rooted down fully just goes back in and goes around again.. i stick toilet roll centres etc in there and my old paper pots i make also..

    thou we do have 2 large ones and turn it form one to the other every couple months..

    i never new you shouldnt put bay leafs in.. most of our tree pruning is burnt or given to neighbour for their log burner..they take anything htey can if it is freeimage

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