Can't compost that
Grak
11 years ago
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feijoas
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoallen456
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Urgent Bark advice needed!
Comments (10)Thanks Seysonn, I am more relaxed about the sizing now⦠I am quickly realizing that all of gardening is far from an exact science as everything (book or web page) and every person I talk to gives me different and often contradicting advise! Thanks Josh, it is a hard truth, but everything I've read/looked up the last few days agrees with you. And I do not want small, nitrogen deprived, yellowing plants! I went back to Lyngso with a sample and they told me that the batch must have gotten contaminated and that they will be getting a fresh batch this week (although they were more surprised about the size issues than the amount of sapwood). Anyway, they are extremely nice, and I will be exchanging it this weekend. In their display room they have samples of all their materials, so I can see what the 1/4 minus fir bark is supposed to look like (assuming their fresh batch looks as it should). It is the bark pictured on the left. While the size of this bark is more uniform, I still see a lot of sapwood. Another option is the fine redwood amendment pictured on the right (I didn't have a coin handy, but it seemed uniform and mostly 1/4 inch and under). The description of these redwood fines is interesting: "Ground up redwood, which is a byproduct of the lumber mills, has been stabilized with nitrogen instead of composted." Would I be better off using the redwood because of the amount of sapwood in the fir? Is this nitrogen stabilization a good thing or is it something to steer clear of? Another option I have is I could drive 40 minutes away to evergreen nursery and hope that their 1/4 minus fir bark is not from the same supplier Lyngso. But since I will need a few loads of this stuff, it is not an option I want to take to unless it will really make a difference. Btw, I am also posting this question on the soil forum, so I can get more feedback before decision time on Saturday. I must actually plant plants this weekend :) Thanks Again, Robin...See MoreJohn Deere X300 Series Dilemna
Comments (13)I have the John Deere X320, bought in 2006. It has a 48" 3 blade deck, which I put the mulching kit on, including mulching blades. I live on a hillside, and have some steep hills. I've never had any problems at all, including when I pull around my 48" core aerator and trailor full of who knows what. I did put two of the suitcase weights on the back to help with traction on the hills. I also have many blue spruces to mow around, so I slapped a grill gaurd on the front, which actually does help, even though I wanted it for the cool look. The cut is good, but I follow a pattern, so it looks better. I keep the mowing height at 2.75", which is healthier for the lawn, but is also the lowest I can go before I get too close to scalping on the hill crests. The deck is easy enough to take off and put on, but leveling the deck is a pain, although not hard to do. As for leaving grass clumps with the mulch deck, well, it ONLY happens when I have let the lawn grow too long, and it is wet. In that case, I just drive over it a 2nd time and it goes away. All in all, I am VERY happy with my X320, and really enjoy mowing with it. Oh, and about the 4-wheel steer, I was told by the guy at the dealership to avoid it if you have steep hills, as you risk a rollover if you have to turn on a hill, which I do. Joe...See MoreIs there anything in my yard that I *can* compost?
Comments (8)If it's organic there is always a way to compost it but the real answer depends on how aggressive and talented a composter you are. With a truly hot pile you would probably be o.k. but much caution is otherwise required. Some of the plants you mentioned are very invasive so preventing their spread is your concern more than making compost. For those that are not in seed and can be killed in place (smothering, etc.), I would be tempted to just leave them be after dispatching them (except the really brushy stuff like privet which you will want to get out of the way and chop up). Plants not in seed and that don't have really tough roots or rhizomes are probably o.k. on a cold pile but, again, my experience with invasives is that you should be more concerned with their eradication than putting them to use. Ailanthus is a bit alleopathic. Uprooted vinca would either have to be hot composted or allowed to dry out and die before adding to a cold pile. Vinca clippings without roots would probably be safe on a cold pile. With invasive plants such as these, I tend to let them dry to death off the ground and then throw them back on the ground or in my cold bins. You might want to check out the natives forum and also the management profiles offered by The Nature Conservancy for more advice on how to get rid of these plants....See MoreHello :)
Comments (4)Well, that's unfortunate - a good idea carried out very badly. That looks like a garbage strike - and I bet it ends up getting buried somewhere when no one's looking. Any fact finding committee should definitely take field trips to jusisdictions where it all works; and there are many of them. I can see your dilemma in not wanting to add to the problem, but you've still got to get rid of generated waste either by composting, trashing, or recycling....See MoreKimmsr
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agokimpa zone 9b N. Florida.
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agosandy1616
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoLloyd
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agohortster
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoGrak
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTheMasterGardener1
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRpR_
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agohortster
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years agoGrak
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannpat
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenbeans
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTheMasterGardener1
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRpR_
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years agofeijoas
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years agojolj
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoGrak
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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