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Composting bracken

CollareddoveCollareddove Posts: 173
in Tools and techniques
Wasn't sure which category to post this question - I feel there should be a category specific for composting (I know there was a thread started a while ago which was very informative and well used, which I should have bookmarked but didn't; that thread seems to have sunk without trace).

Anyway, I have cut quite a lot of bracken from my paddock, obviously have to move it to prevent sheep eating it. I am wondering if it is ok to add it to my compost heap?  There is quite a lot of it and I wouldn't want to overwhelm the heap.  (Cold composting I'm afraid, never got the hang of hot composting despite investing in a Hotbin).
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  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Yes, you can add it to your compost heap. Best to shred it finely first though. There are commercial suppliers out there such as Dalefoot who mix it with wool.
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    I'm wondering if green bracken freshly cut would count as a contributor of nitrogen (Greens) and older browned bracken would count as adding to carbons (Browns). Could half and half balance each other out to a good mix? Would hay and fresh grass manage the same thing? I've not tried it.
  • CollareddoveCollareddove Posts: 173
    steephill said:
    Yes, you can add it to your compost heap. Best to shred it finely first though. There are commercial suppliers out there such as Dalefoot who mix it with wool.
    Well, there's a thought @steephill, I just happen to have a couple of fleeces hanging around ...
  • jimmidsjimmids Posts: 22

    Absolutely, you can add bracken to your compost heap! Bracken can be a valuable addition to your compost as long as you follow a few guidelines to ensure it breaks down effectively.

    1. Mix with Other Materials: Since you mentioned having quite a lot of bracken, it's essential to balance it with other compostable materials. Aim for a mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Bracken is considered a brown material, so be sure to add some green materials like kitchen scraps, grass clippings, or other plant trimmings to create a well-balanced compost pile.

    2. Chop or Shred the Bracken: Bracken can take some time to break down due to its fibrous nature. To speed up the composting process, consider chopping or shredding the bracken into smaller pieces. This increases the surface area, allowing microorganisms to work more efficiently.

    3. Layering: When adding bracken to your compost heap, layer it with other materials. For example, add a layer of kitchen scraps, followed by a layer of bracken, and then some garden waste. Continue this layering process to promote better decomposition.

    4. Moisture and Aeration: Composting organisms need moisture and oxygen to do their job. Make sure your compost heap stays damp but not waterlogged. Additionally, you can turn or aerate the compost pile regularly to provide oxygen to the microorganisms and speed up decomposition.

    5. Patience: Cold composting takes longer compared to hot composting, but it's still effective. Be patient and allow nature to work its magic. Over time, the bracken and other materials will break down into nutrient-rich compost for your garden.

    6. Avoid Seed Heads: If the bracken plants had developed spores or seed heads, it's best to avoid adding them to your compost heap. Some weeds can survive the composting process and end up sprouting in your garden later on.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I seem to remember there was a commercial compost made from bracken.  If you cut it green and shred it, it should heat up.  I've been shredding brambles, with this rain they are growing like crazy.Mixed with a bit of mown grass, the heap is up to 65C
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    jimmids said: Bracken can be a valuable addition to your compost as long as you follow a few guidelines to ensure it breaks down effectively.

    It doesn't have to be that complicated.
  • jimmidsjimmids Posts: 22
    SalixGold said:
    jimmids said: Bracken can be a valuable addition to your compost as long as you follow a few guidelines to ensure it breaks down effectively.

    It doesn't have to be that complicated.

    My Apologies , I do have a tendency to over complicate .. But , Ah, Pteridium aquilinum, or bracken as it's commonly known to those who haven't devoted their lives to the intimate study of ferns. Composting bracken isn't merely throwing green stuff on a pile; oh no, it's an intricate dance of biology and chemistry, a veritable symphony of scientific wonderment.

    You see, the cellular structure of bracken is a labyrinthine marvel filled with cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, substances that laugh in the face of simple decomposition. These complex organic polymers don't merely break down; they engage in a metabolic ballet with microorganisms that's akin to a molecular tango.

    Then there's the pH of your compost pile. The acidic nature of bracken requires the precise balance of alkaline material, lest you upset the delicate hydrogen ion concentration. Just a smidge too much, and you've opened a wormhole to another composting dimension.

    And let's not forget the enzymatic degradation process. The breakdown of bracken's robust fibers requires specific enzymes like cellulase and ligninase, produced by the very choosiest of microorganisms. These enzymes delicately nibble away at the bracken, a process similar to enjoying a seven-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

    The thermodynamics of the composting pile must also be considered. The enthalpy and entropy must be in perfect harmony, a state achievable only under a full moon while Mercury is in retrograde, of course.

    Finally, the crowning glory of the process: the nitrogen cycle. Here, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi consort in a nitrogenous soirée, converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, nitrates, and other compounds essential for a healthy compost pile.

    So next time you casually toss some bracken into your compost, reflect on the scientific marvel you're partaking in. You're not merely composting; you're conducting a full-scale biological, chemical, and physical orchestra.

    Here's to bracken, the diva of the compost world, demanding nothing but the finest attention to detail. And should you find all of this just a tad overwhelming, don't worry. It's all a bit of "much ado about composting," and your garden will likely forgive you for not treating your bracken to a five-star decomposition experience.

    Happy composting, fellow brackenologists!

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bracken is fine in a compost heap - you can chop it up a bit with scissors if you want to help it break down more quickly, but it's no more difficult in that respect  to many plants. 
    I'm not sure why you're worried about sheep being in amongst it though. We'd have a lot of dead sheep up here if it was a problem for them  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CollareddoveCollareddove Posts: 173
    Thank you @Fairygirl,I will shred it by running over it with the mower, as I do with leaves when making leaf mold.
    I was told by an old farmer that bracken is not harmful to sheep when it is growing, or when it is dead, but when it is cut snd dying it gives off some toxin which can kill.  Also I found this interesting thread in a farming forum: 

    https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/sheep-poisoned-by-bracken.350450/

    So I am being ultra- cautious.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    Bracken spores can cause health problems  … please follow the RHS advice …

    “…People gathering bracken for composting or eradication purposes are advised not to do so in late summer when the spores are released, particularly in dry weather…”

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/bracken#:~:text=Cultural%20Control

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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