I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

Janet G

"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

I woould leave them in the sacks, assuming they are polythene sacks.

Alan


Janet G

Rot down first otherwise the ivy could very well root and "Bingo" perfect
ground cover. Try tying in black polythene sacks for a month or so to start
the breakdown process. poke a few small holes for drainage.
regards
Cineman


"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

Janet G

"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

Janet G


The message
from "cineman" contains these words:

Rot down first otherwise the ivy could very well root and "Bingo" perfect
ground cover. Try tying in black polythene sacks for a month or so to start
the breakdown process. poke a few small holes for drainage.
regards
Cineman

The ivy is quite finely shredded. I wouldn't have thought it could root
from shreddings. I was hoping that covering with black polythene would
create the same kind of conditions as keeping them in black polythene
sacks.

Janet G

On Sat, 15 Oct 2005 10:38:20 +0100, Janet Galpin
wrote:

I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

Janet G

AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


--
Its much much better to add the shreddings to your compost bin that way you
get a good mix of nutrients

The message
from "nambucca" contains these words:



AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


--
Its much much better to add the shreddings to your compost bin that way you
get a good mix of nutrients

I understand that, in a perfect world and with more time at my disposal,
this would be the best thing to do. At the moment, however, until I
retire etc, I could do with one or two short-cuts.
Another advantage of putting the ivy shreddings straight onto the beds
is that they should be weed-free whereas the same doesn't apply to my
compost heap. I'm really wanting to know whether I'm creating any
problems for myself in the spring, i.e. that there will be no benefit at
all or even that I might have reduced fertility.
If there is *some* benefit, given the ease of the procedure, then that
will make it worth my while.

Thanks
Janet G

"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...


"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
I have just generated a few sackfuls of ivy shreddings. It's good stuff
- a nice mixture of woody and leafy, and quite fine. I would normally
simply add the shreddings to my compost heap.

However, I'm wondering whether to put them straight onto some
vegetable
beds and cover with black polythene in the hope that they will be
reasonably well rotted down by springtime. I'm just a bit concerned
that
in rotting they will deplete the soil of nitrogen, or is that just a
temporary effect when they're very fresh?

Janet G


The message
from "cineman" contains these words:

Rot down first otherwise the ivy could very well root and "Bingo"
perfect
ground cover. Try tying in black polythene sacks for a month or so to
start
the breakdown process. poke a few small holes for drainage.
regards
Cineman

The ivy is quite finely shredded. I wouldn't have thought it could root
from shreddings. I was hoping that covering with black polythene would
create the same kind of conditions as keeping them in black polythene
sacks.

Janet G

I always put mine straight on, shredded ivy wont root, but beware if there
were any seed heads, made that mistake one year and had a wonderful crop of
ivy seedlings (the blackbirds really don't need any help with that job!)
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

In article , Janet Galpin
writes
The message
from "nambucca" contains these words:



AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


--
Its much much better to add the shreddings to your compost bin that way you
get a good mix of nutrients

I understand that, in a perfect world and with more time at my disposal,
this would be the best thing to do. At the moment, however, until I
retire etc, I could do with one or two short-cuts.
Another advantage of putting the ivy shreddings straight onto the beds
is that they should be weed-free whereas the same doesn't apply to my
compost heap. I'm really wanting to know whether I'm creating any
problems for myself in the spring, i.e. that there will be no benefit at
all or even that I might have reduced fertility.
If there is *some* benefit, given the ease of the procedure, then that
will make it worth my while.

If it were me, I would put it straight on to the beds. Any reduction in
fertility will be short lived (and I must admit I've never noticed a
problem although others claim to have), long term benefit will be large.

I haven't used shredded ivy as a mulch, but I do use shreddings and
partially rotted compost, and it makes a huge difference to the
consistency of the soil.
--
Kay Start every day with a smile and get it over with
WC Fields

My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your bed as even
a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said before you would
have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black plastic bags under a bush or
hedge for a few weeks just to start the rotting process.

regards
Cineman

"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
The message
from "nambucca" contains these words:



AIUI fresh shreddings etc do deplete the soil of nitrogen initially as
bacteria rot them down, but when the bacteria die that nitrogen
becomes available again. It's not permanently locked up.


--
Its much much better to add the shreddings to your compost bin that way
you
get a good mix of nutrients

I understand that, in a perfect world and with more time at my disposal,
this would be the best thing to do. At the moment, however, until I
retire etc, I could do with one or two short-cuts.
Another advantage of putting the ivy shreddings straight onto the beds
is that they should be weed-free whereas the same doesn't apply to my
compost heap. I'm really wanting to know whether I'm creating any
problems for myself in the spring, i.e. that there will be no benefit at
all or even that I might have reduced fertility.
If there is *some* benefit, given the ease of the procedure, then that
will make it worth my while.

Thanks
Janet G

cineman wrote:
My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your bed as even
a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said before you would
have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black plastic bags under a bush or
hedge for a few weeks just to start the rotting process.

What about holly?! I'm having my holly tree professionaly pruned. I was
offered the shreddings as they bring a machine with them. I accepted
thinking it would be a fabulous mulch but now I'm wondering if it's not
too acid? Maybe only for the paths ... but even though, am I making a
mistake?

In article .com, La
puce writes

cineman wrote:
My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your bed as even
a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said before you would
have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black plastic bags under a bush or
hedge for a few weeks just to start the rotting process.

What about holly?! I'm having my holly tree professionaly pruned. I was
offered the shreddings as they bring a machine with them. I accepted
thinking it would be a fabulous mulch but now I'm wondering if it's not
too acid? Maybe only for the paths ... but even though, am I making a
mistake?

Please can someone with botanical and chemical knowledge explain this
thing about leaves being acid? I know that peat bogs are acid, but could
someone please explain the process by which pine needles. holly etc
render the soil acid?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article .com, La
puce writes

cineman wrote:
My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your bed as
even
a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said before you
would
have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black plastic bags under a bush
or
hedge for a few weeks just to start the rotting process.

What about holly?! I'm having my holly tree professionaly pruned. I was
offered the shreddings as they bring a machine with them. I accepted
thinking it would be a fabulous mulch but now I'm wondering if it's not
too acid? Maybe only for the paths ... but even though, am I making a
mistake?

Please can someone with botanical and chemical knowledge explain this
thing about leaves being acid? I know that peat bogs are acid, but could
someone please explain the process by which pine needles. holly etc
render the soil acid?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

I do not think they make the soil acid, (I thought all soils are acid unless
there is some limestone or chalk around to make them alkaline, so soils on
volcanic islands would be acid and counties like Cornwall are largely acid
due to lack of limestone or chalk) but rather if you create soil humus with
vegetable matter it is bound to be acid, so if you dilute your soil with it,
the effect is of lowering ph. I would have thought on strongly alkaline
soils the effect would be small but it may tip the balance on neutral soils.
I too shall be interested in the deliberations of the more scientific among
us. But I do know that attempting to lower ph on alkaline soils in order to
grow say Rhodos is pretty much a waste of time and effort so making soil
acid must be quite hard.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

In article , Charlie
Pridham writes

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article .com, La
puce writes

cineman wrote:
My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your bed as
even
a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said before you
would
have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black plastic bags under a bush
or
hedge for a few weeks just to start the rotting process.

What about holly?! I'm having my holly tree professionaly pruned. I was
offered the shreddings as they bring a machine with them. I accepted
thinking it would be a fabulous mulch but now I'm wondering if it's not
too acid? Maybe only for the paths ... but even though, am I making a
mistake?

Please can someone with botanical and chemical knowledge explain this
thing about leaves being acid? I know that peat bogs are acid, but could
someone please explain the process by which pine needles. holly etc
render the soil acid?

I do not think they make the soil acid, (I thought all soils are acid unless
there is some limestone or chalk around to make them alkaline, so soils on
volcanic islands would be acid and counties like Cornwall are largely acid
due to lack of limestone or chalk) but rather if you create soil humus with
vegetable matter it is bound to be acid,

Why is it 'bound' to be acid? Does the vegetable matter start off acid,
or is it the process of decomposition which makes it so, and if so, what
is the chemical process? There's a big gap in my knowledge here!

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay wrote:
In article .com,
La
puce writes

cineman wrote:
My advice would be not to put ivy shreddings straight onto your
bed
as even a small piece of stem can throw off roots , and as i said
before you would have the perfect groundcover. Keep in black
plastic bags under a bush or hedge for a few weeks just to start
the rotting process.

What about holly?! I'm having my holly tree professionaly pruned.
I
was offered the shreddings as they bring a machine with them. I
accepted thinking it would be a fabulous mulch but now I'm
wondering
if it's not too acid? Maybe only for the paths ... but even
though,
am I making a mistake?

Please can someone with botanical and chemical knowledge explain
this
thing about leaves being acid? I know that peat bogs are acid, but
could someone please explain the process by which pine needles.
holly
etc render the soil acid?

It's yer nitrogen balance, innit, missis? Yer plant, nah, that's like
all nitrogen and yer long-chain molecules an 'at. Yer calcium
compahns, onneuvverand, what is what achieves yer Swiss-style
neutrality, are fahnd in trivial quantities in yer average vegetable
material; an what there is, is leached aht by yer rainfall. Take it
from me, lady: you leave that stuff lyin abaht, you'll ave a bloomin
peat-bog before you can say "Paddy Murphy".

--
Mike.