Kitchen Garden Forum

I am in the process of cutting down a 20ft high Cypress tree. Anything small enough - 1 in diameter or less - is being shredded and as there are quite a lot of leaves, there a mix which may, after several years, rot down. At present I am putting them in polythene garden waste bags - 7 at them moment, but probably end up around 20 - but I was wondering if it might be better to simply create a big heap and cover it.

Colin, in bags they will dry out and go very mouldy.

I did this with shredded hazel/yew/beech/cherry/hawthorn mix and when I emptied a bag I was in an immediate health hazard, a rapidly expanding pale grey cloud of mould spores.

The bags largely kept the rain out and when the contents started to decay it got hot enough to dry out, as cut wood will do anywaym the decay moulds ripened and fruited, then I disturbed it all.

Learning from this I subsequently did the shredding in the warmer times of the year and rapidly transferred from bags into my coal-bunker derived compost bin, alternate layers of; six inches of shreddings, then that weeks lawn mowings.
Stir vigerously just before the next weeks load was added and water occasionaly.

This approach will work with bags, but you'll need to find some "wet" material to add, veg waste from the kitchen would be ok, tea bags, weeds etc. remember to check the moisture levels, you'll need it damp but not wet for the wood in the mix to decompose.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Peter. I will have plenty of grass cuttings to add before long, but I think it might end up as a heap as I haven't really got a big enough container.

Hi Colin,
The other year I took a large number of Leylandii down (much to the annoyance of the local tree preservation officer. You may well remember.)
I made piles of the brush and allowed the foliage to go brown and then simply thrashed the branches and was left with just the foliage to deal with. This was composted with fresh cows muck and layers of chopped straw layered with fresh cut Comfrey (not wilted) and after 18 months it made the most marvellous soil conditioner.
I do not know if you have the space available (and as you have already blitzed it all) to allow a more natural process to be used.
I have a lifetimes supply of kindling for my log burner!
JB.