Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

lizzG

Hello all, i am a newbie.

would just like to say that i love this forum and i have learnt sooooooooooo much just by reading it.

however, i haven't sen a thread on this yet.......
I am in the process of cutting up my real christmas tree to take it to the local recyling place.
Can i put it on my compost?

not sure on this for a few reasons really. Will it rot down ok or take ages? can you put evergreens on a compost??


thanks to you all in advance and also for past threads that have helped me no end.

thriftyjo

I suppose of you chop it into small enough pieces it should be ok ... I put conifer off cuts in ours and they seem to decompose ok.

albacore1854

I shred all my conifer cuttings, and use them as mulch, rather than compost.

lizzG

thanks very much for yr replies.
i will be doing the same as you two amd chucking on the compost then.

that saves my petrol taking it to the recycling centre. i'll recycle it myself.

Dustykitten

In my experience conifer prunning/trees don't make great compost. If it is just for rotting down to get rid of it fine but the compost it makes for using is not great. I shall be keeping the trunk part of mine to burn on the fire and putting the branches in the council compost bin which they collect as it will have less effect mixed in with a huge amount. DK

Mr_Warren_2

Pine tree needles do not compost very well. Use as mulch (for a very small garden) or chop and burn in your fireplace if you have one.

comicmankev

Any idea what I can do? I have the hard base on the plastic compost bin, which is supposed to help stop mice and rats, but the blighters have ripped the door off and are in there.

Do I need to get rid? How??

Thanks!

Gingham_Ribbon

I think there are a few composting threads in the green board, so I'll move your question over there where hopefully you'll get more response.

By the way, my sympathies!

kscour

had this problem when one tunnelled from underneath - through compacted gravel base that you can't break up with a pick believe it or not! Compost bin is now stood on thick metal sheet. OH lifted ours up with a forklift emptied into one of those big oil drums and added petrol & match (obviously forklifts aren't available to most people but I would suggest doing something along those lines and then wrapping the door back on with a strong wire mesh). Also would be worth contacting your council because the rats must have come from somewhere and you could well have a nest on your property.

You have my sympathies - I hope you sort the horrible little creatures out quickly

annie123

Ours stands on a couple of pieces of broken paving slabs.
Never had rats/mice in it.
Are you putting meat in? I have read that that attracts rats/mice.

I agree worth getting the council in to look for the nest. Good luck