composting

Andy Burns

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Aug 1, 2021, 11:21:29 AM8/1/21

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Should I assume the thick stems from wild hops are not very good compost
bin material?

Jeff Layman

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Aug 1, 2021, 12:05:55 PM8/1/21

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On 01/08/2021 16:21, Andy Burns wrote:
> Should I assume the thick stems from wild hops are not very good compost
> bin material?

Can you put the stems through a shredder? If so, they should compost
well. I put any thick stems through my shredder and either compost them,
or, if the compost bin is already pretty full, just empty the shredder
box on the flower beds to act as a mulch.

--

Jeff

Andy Burns

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Aug 1, 2021, 12:33:58 PM8/1/21

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Jeff Layman wrote:

> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> Should I assume the thick stems from wild hops are not very good compost
>> bin material?
>
> Can you put the stems through a shredder? If so, they should compost
> well.

I don't have one, and no mains available,

> I put any thick stems through my shredder and either compost them,
> or, if the compost bin is already pretty full, just empty the shredder
> box on the flower beds to act as a mulch.

There's not such a huge amount of them that going to town on them with a
pair of secateurs would be out of the question, if 4-6" pieces would be
ok ...

Nick Maclaren

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Aug 1, 2021, 2:41:26 PM8/1/21

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In article <imo0nj...@mid.individual.net>,

I did that with many climbers before I got a shredder. It just takes
a bit longer.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The Natural Philosopher

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Aug 1, 2021, 8:23:04 PM8/1/21

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I have done that with a hedge trimmer on smaller stuff

> Regards,
> Nick Maclaren.
>

--
Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the
gospel of envy.

Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

Winston Churchill

Jeff Layman

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Aug 2, 2021, 2:49:45 AM8/2/21

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OK for what? For composting, they are a bit big, depending on the
diameter of the hop stems. Out of interest, can the stems be split
lengthways easily? If so, that would really help composting.

--

Jeff

Andy Burns

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Aug 2, 2021, 3:39:31 AM8/2/21

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The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> I have done that with a hedge trimmer on smaller stuff

The hop tendrils seem good at clogging the hedge trimmer.

The Natural Philosopher

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Aug 2, 2021, 4:56:06 AM8/2/21

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ah. Hops. strimmer maybe?

--
Gun Control: The law that ensures that only criminals have guns.

David Hill

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Aug 2, 2021, 4:56:59 AM8/2/21

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An alternative is to run a rotary mower over the bits a few times.

Jeff Layman

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Aug 2, 2021, 6:24:05 AM8/2/21

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Possibly, assuming the OP has a petrol mower. But it would also depend
on the stems being not too woody, and probably under 1 cm in diameter.

--

Jeff

The Natural Philosopher

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Aug 2, 2021, 6:27:48 AM8/2/21

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My 14bhp Briggs and Stratton makes mincemeat of anything up to an inch.
Although I have cursed and sworn when it jammed on bigger stuff...

I use it to mulch the smaller hedge clippings
--
Climate Change: Socialism wearing a lab coat.

Andy Burns

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Aug 2, 2021, 6:28:48 AM8/2/21

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Jeff Layman wrote:

> David Hill wrote:
> >> An alternative is to run a rotary mower over the bits a few times.
>
> Possibly, assuming the OP has a petrol mower.

It'd need the blades re-sharpening afterward from all the stones :-)

> But it would also depend
> on the stems being not too woody, and probably under 1 cm in diameter.

Last year's stems are quite woody, this year's are not, all well under 1cm.

David Hill

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Aug 2, 2021, 8:09:51 AM8/2/21

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can't you move them off the stones?

alan_m

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Aug 2, 2021, 8:37:32 AM8/2/21

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On 02/08/2021 01:23, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 01/08/2021 19:41, Nick Maclaren wrote:
>> In article <imo0nj...@mid.individual.net>,
>> Andy Burns <use...@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>>> Jeff Layman wrote:
>>>> Andy Burns wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Should I assume the thick stems from wild hops are not very good
>>>>> compost
>>>>> bin material?
>>>>
>>>> Can you put the stems through a shredder? If so, they should compost
>>>> well.
>>>
>>> I don't have one, and no mains available,
>>>
>>>> I put any thick stems through my shredder and either compost them,
>>>> or, if the compost bin is already pretty full, just empty the shredder
>>>> box on the flower beds to act as a mulch.
>>>
>>> There's not such a huge amount of them that going to town on them with a
>>> pair of secateurs would be out of the question, if 4-6" pieces would be
>>> ok ...
>>
>> I did that with many climbers before I got a shredder. It just takes
>> a bit longer.

Lawn mover makes a good shredder for items that are not considered as
wooden branches.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Chris Green

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Aug 2, 2021, 9:03:04 AM8/2/21

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We have Stiga out-front mower with a flail deck as well as a more
conventional rotary one. The flail minces most things very efficiently!

--
Chris Green
·