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What to do with Shreded branches
Newb
Posts: 211
i have pruned some small trees and shredded the branch wood. Is there any use of these chips. can i add it to compost bin as browns? Can i use it as mulch? It might contain loads of aphid eggs as those small trees were badly infected last year.
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I would use as a mulch on shrubbery type beds,as a dressing for informal paths in woodland or use as a 'Brown' in compost heaps.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I read somewhere not to use freshly shredded material as mulch, although I can't recall the reason. That said, I have used it as mulch several times and never noticed any problem.
If it is ok to use as browns, i will prefer that. They are fairly sharp currently to use as mulch and i always have shortage of brown materials.
i think the problem with using freshly shredded stuff as a mulch is that the subsequent breaking down uses up nitrogen in the soil before of course eventually replacing it - that's why I wouldn't use it to mulch a veg plot or flower border.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've always added mine to the compost bin but now you've made me worry that it might be the wrong thing to do! (Never had any problems though).
Singing gardener,
sorry if i got you worried. I am still new in gardening... And overly cautious type...
Fresh wood chippings are great as brown stuff in compost heaps.
I believe it's also safer than using it as a mulch, especially if it contains willow. I spread some willow chippings on my garden - kindly donated by the council chappies who sheltered in my garage for their lunch ( better than their van and they wouldn't use the kitchen - and the flipping stuff grew willow trees all over the place!
The amount of nitrogen consumed in degrading is now thought to be negligible. I would worry more about aphid and other pest eggs. Better neutralised in a compost heap.
Newb - you can go for either of your options - but I think a lot depends on the size of your shreddings. If you've essentially ended up with wood chippings (ie quiet large pieces - the size of small stones) I would use it as a mulch in the way Dove suggests.
If what you have is more like chopped up twigs and straw it will be an excellent 'brown' addition to your compost bin. If there is a lot you can store it in a dumpy sack to add between layers of green stuff when the garden starts producing that.
I use my shreddings every year. They heat up and compost down beautifully
It is more like the size of pieces you see when you buy bark mulch or like kids playarea chippings. I used this shredder
http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb353shr-2500w-80kg-hr-electric-garden-shredder-230-240v/39931?kpid=KINASEKPID&cm_mmc=GoogleLocal-_-Datafeed-_-Outdoor%20and%20Gardening&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CP6NvsK3vNECFQSfGwod2AkIrA
Anyway whatever compost i made last time, i just spread it like mulch.
I shredded viburnum, lilac, magnolia, buddelia and one more tree but not willow.
Last edited: 12 January 2017 10:52:38
If what's coming out of your is the same as the second picture in that link it looks as though it would be fine to use as brown material if that is what you would prefer to use it for.
If it is all very woody I would definitely try to mix it with some green. Mine usually has a mix of shredded woody branches and shredded greener stuff such as cosmos stems, green rose branches.