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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: pembo on May 30, 2005, 15:07:30

Title: privet clippings
Post by: pembo on May 30, 2005, 15:07:30
Have had mixed messages about privet clippings in compost.  Some say no no, others say yes yes!!  What does anyone feel, or what is the expert advice!!  Thanks for all your encouragement on other issues. :-X
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: teresa on May 30, 2005, 17:56:33
It should be fine if you lay it on your lawn and go over it with a lawnmower to chop it up finer. Then just put it in layers in the compost bin or a plastic bag to rot down or trench in lottie.
All will break down eventualy and it not like conifer where you do get problems.
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: slugcatcher on June 01, 2005, 07:30:56
What problems is there from conifer clippings?
Im asking because we had some(shredded clippings) delivered for paths and was thinking of using it this year for the paths and then turning it it the soil at the back end.
Is this a no no?

Ron
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: teresa on June 01, 2005, 07:55:29
Hi Ron,
Conifer is like pine great for paths think its the sap will kill anything growing perhaps in a year or so for the garden.
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: Kepouros on June 01, 2005, 21:48:24
If the coniferous chippings are the large ones which come out of the commercial type shredders they are best kept for the paths, where they will last for several years before they break down.  If the chippings are small, such as those from a domestic shredder then they should be composted before they are used in the soil - they will take 3 or 4 years to break down properly.  If the chippings contain any large proportion of shredded coniferous foliage the resulting compost will have a much lower pH than ordinary garden compost.
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: Diana on June 01, 2005, 21:56:33
Quote from: Kepouros on June 01, 2005, 21:48:24
If the chippings contain any large proportion of shredded coniferous foliage the resulting compost will have a much lower pH than ordinary garden compost.


i.e. goo for heather, rhodi, blueberries as mulch etc
Title: Re: privet clippings
Post by: Kepouros on June 02, 2005, 00:04:47
Very definitely