I got the Flymo garden shredder recommended by another psoter and its GREAT! Munches everything up to 4cm diameter beautifully.
Read somewhere you cannot use the results straight away as mulch....so how long do I leave it till its mulchable? Do I leave it in the corner of the garden in a heap or what?
Instructions said you could mix in washed seaweed......the beach is down the road.....any ideas?
Gen in Gloomy Northumberland but at least the heavy fog has gone.
Hi Gen
I put my shreddings on the compost heap (sweetcorn and sunflower stems) - its great for creating some heat in the pile.
If you now have wood chips now that are fresh, whether or not you spread them as a mulch now depends on where you are spreading them. As the fresh wood rots down, it will use nitrogen in the soil but will release that nitrogen back as the wood gets older and more rotten.
So yes, if you are spreading them on a path or wild patch and no, if you are wanting to spread on cultivated areas to retain moisture and keep weeds down.
How long to leave? The fresh wood chippings I use on my paths break down completely in a year - so I would say 3-6 months - but an expert will be along shortly ;)
Absolutley spot on.
I use wood chip all over the place, especially on beds (with a dose of dried blood for nitrogen) as a mulch to keep the moisture in and the weeds down.
Thanks for the speedy answers!
I have a nasty bit behind the greenhouse about 8 feet long and 2 feet wide, full of nettles and docks and tough grass, can I spread my shreddies there? Immediately?
Gen in NBL
You'll want a depth half an inch if the ground is clean - ie no weeds. about two inches if full of weeds.
I usually weed first then spread. You could, of course, cover with weed supressant fabric and cover that with wood chip.
Thanks for advice, people. All done, shreddies laid on chopped up weeds, will see what happens. I'm not growing anything there so no need to worry abput nitrogen.
Gen in NBL