Shredders are often used for pieces of trees and branches that have been trimmed, but they can also be used to shred your regular garden waste. Once you’ve done the shredding, however, you’re left with a heap of waste that you may not know what to do with. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make use of it.
1. Add It to the Compost Pile
All types of garden waste will do nicely in a compost pile. When mixed with other compostable ingredients and dead leaves, it can work brilliantly for creating rich soil for the future. Compost does take time, so it’s best if you have enough space to store it for some time. You can then turn it as needed to ensure the entire pile has what it needs to compost properly. There are composting bins that may speed up the process, as well, but these are generally best for small amounts of waste.
2. Spread Mulch in Your Garden Beds
If you have been shredding mostly wood and branches, you’ll have a fine pile of wood chips at the end of the day. These work quite well as mulch for paths and garden beds. A thick layer of wood chips helps insulate the soil, protect it from harm, and reduces the chances of weeds making it through. The protective layer also locks moisture into the soil to help plants thrive. Simply spread it around your existing plants in a layer roughly 2-3 inches thick.
3. Till It Under
Another option, particularly with more green waste, is to dig it into your soil. If you are shredding waste at the end of the summer, this is the perfect time to do this task. It will help put nutrients back into the soil for the next growing season, though it may also increase the amount of weeds you have if the plants went to seed before being collected.
4. Animal Bedding
Do you have rabbits, chickens, or other small animals? They will often benefit from a nice layer of wood chips or garden waste as their bedding. It makes messes easier to clean up and gives the animals a nice layer of softness to walk on. Consider using your mulch for this purpose if you don’t need it in the garden.
Shredding is a wonderful way of reducing the sheer volume of your waste, but it also makes it easier to break down in composting and nature. Consider hiring a shredder for your garden clean up so you can process everything faster.
Contact us here at Cherry Hill Waste to schedule your shredder hire!
