Topic: Wise to put Holly leaves in Composter?

[irridium]

was just about to re-plant my flower bed at home today and discovered that the pulled-up phacelia is covered in dead holly leaves, but realised that this might not compost down well in the composter. i wouldn't want to get pricked when i turn the bin later on. what do you think i should do, just leave it on the bed? i'd say half of the foilage is going to be dug in, and i guess some of the holly will get in with that, but with the rest, do you think i should just take it down to the lotti, and dig it in for a new bed (i don't know what tho' - any ideas).

thanks ;)

[tomatoada]

I never put anything prickly in my compost.   Being jabbbed with thorns I do not like.

[lincsyokel2]

If you threw them onto a conventional compost heap and left it two years i doubt they thorns would survive.

[cornykev]

I scatter mine around brassicas to keep the slugsat bay.   ;D

[irridium]

what I had forgotten at the time of clearing the bed was that I must have put the holly there on purpose  ::) ::) ::) as a cat deterrent, and in early spring, last yr's phacelia had self-seeded itself and I decided to let it grow and of course, I forgot all about it. I think I should leave it but the phacelia, I'm not sure what I can do with it if it's got holly tangled up in it. What do you think I should do?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Dig it in or compost it, and don't worry. It'll all rot down with no problems. I've often had holly leaves mixed up with the stuff I use for mulch, and the only problem i've ever has is with the occasional fresh leaf stabbing me.