What to do - garden cuttings etc ...

David

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Nov 6, 2001, 8:33:04 PM11/6/01

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I often end up with collections of various things that I've removed from parts
of the garden (branches, leaves, cuttings from climbers, extracted weeds, etc
etc) piling up in a corner. Seems a waste to just throw out. My council does
have a "green waste" cleanup every now and then but hasn't had one for some
time.

However the pile just gets bigger and bigger and I've only a small garden.

What the best things to do ? Do I buy some sort of mulcher thingy and use it
to break it all down ? Then what ? Try and compost it ? Just spread it around
the garden beds ? Any ideas ?

Chris

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Nov 6, 2001, 9:43:23 PM11/6/01

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David wrote:

running over it with the lawnmower works here.

chris

Aylwen Garden

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Nov 7, 2001, 7:06:40 PM11/7/01

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If you don't want it, contact a trash pac company - they do monthly
collections for a reasonable fee.
Aylwen Garden (horticulturalist in her spare time)
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David wrote in message ...

Chookie

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Nov 8, 2001, 9:19:50 PM11/8/01

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In article <kb0G7.70$an....@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net>,
dflem...@hotmail.com (David) wrote:

The pile in the corner is a good start to a compost heap. Add some
cow/chook poo to make it break down faster. If you have lots of
branches, buy/hire a mulcher (the increased surface area leads to faster
digestion). If you only have a few branches, break them up and put them
at the bottom of the heap.

If even 1m x 1m is too much space to lose, turn a large garbage bin
upside down, cut a hole in the bottom, throw everything in there
(including kitchen scraps) and put the lid on. I used this in my
townhouse garden. A worm farm is another idea.

Your garden refuse should be composted first. If you use it as mulch as
is, some stuff will take ages to break down and some weeds/trimmings
will just resprout.

--
Chookie
Sydney, Australia
(Replace "spambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"There is no higher lifeform than a librarian"
Terry Pratchett, The Science of the Discworld

C G Thompson

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Nov 11, 2001, 10:59:09 AM11/11/01

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I concur with the lawnmower solution.
I used to spread out the clippings on the driveway then run over them with
my slasher mower, catcher on, and then spread the result back onto the
garden. Do this when the clippings are fresh though or you will give your
mower a hard time. Your worms will love you.

CT

"David" <dflem...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:kb0G7.70$an....@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...

David

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Nov 11, 2001, 6:38:49 PM11/11/01

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In article <SexH7.202921$8x1....@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>,
cgtho...@bigpond.com says...

>
>I concur with the lawnmower solution.
>I used to spread out the clippings on the driveway then run over them
with
>my slasher mower, catcher on, and then spread the result back onto the
>garden. Do this when the clippings are fresh though or you will give
your
>mower a hard time. Your worms will love you.
>

Sounds good. I only have a push mower tho (v. small lawn) so it's not good
for me!

Think I'm going to compost some, but I think I can't avoid taking some to
my local "waste management centre" because I just don't have the space.

I need to somehow make my garden more "low maintenance". It is small but
its size belies the upkeep involved. Being constantly invaded by one of my
neighbour's weeds (wandering jew + other nasties) doesn't help either.
Plus other neighbour's trees constantly encroaching my place.

Oh well.