Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Anton 2 on November 28, 2021, 12:29

Title: Composting ivy.
Post by: Anton 2 on November 28, 2021, 12:29

I've have finished cutting the ivy of the allotment garden shed and the wall behind it. Is there any reason I cannot add the cuttings to ;my compost bin?

Anton

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: mumofstig on November 28, 2021, 12:35

I wouldn't try, it forms roots into the compost, rather than rotting away  :(

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Anton 2 on November 28, 2021, 12:45

Thanks, Lesley, lucky you told me that.

Anton

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Christine on November 28, 2021, 12:53

Been there and done that, dropped a few pieces in the heap and like potato peelings it grew again.

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Hampshire Hog on November 28, 2021, 15:48

Good warning I must remember that!!

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Subversive_plot on November 28, 2021, 20:53

If you are talking about Hedera (we call it English ivy here), I pile it, mulch it with the lawn mower, let it "work" for a month or two, then add it to my 'stage 2' compost bin. I have never had sprouting problems.

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Mr Rotavator on November 28, 2021, 21:14

I have two pallet compost bins that have lots of Ivy in and I didn't notice any regrowth when I turned it.

Title: Re: Composting ivy.
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on November 28, 2021, 22:33

Quote from: Subversive_plot on November 28, 2021, 20:53

If you are talking about Hedera (we call it English ivy here), I pile it, mulch it with the lawn mower, let it "work" for a month or two, then add it to my 'stage 2' compost bin. I have never had sprouting problems.

I've also composted Ivy by shredding it and leaving it in a bucket to die before adding it to the bin. I'd never stick it in freshly cut though.