There’s a particular sort of satisfaction that comes after weeding or pruning session. Raised beds are neat, foliage is now not attacking your guests as they head down your entrance path, and you’re feeling that small sense of accomplishment. That’s, till you flip round and face the sprawling mass of clippings, weeds, and branches you’ve got created.
So what to do with it? Perhaps your first urge is to stuff all of it into bin luggage, set it alight or simply pile it behind the shed and neglect about it. However earlier than you do, take into account that this inexperienced aftermath won’t be an issue in any respect. The truth is, most of it has the potential to nourish your backyard and wildlife, saving you cash within the course of.
We have requested a few of our favorite backyard consultants for his or her tips about methods to use backyard waste for good, whereas saving it from landfill. And if you happen to actually do not have a use for it, we’ll clarify the principles on the subject of disposing of tree offcuts, useless vegetation, horsetail weeds and the like, to save lots of you any bother.
1. Add it to a compost heap
“Composting is about turning on a regular basis backyard and kitchen waste into “black gold”, wealthy crumbly natural matter that feeds the soil and improves plant well being. We depend on it to open up heavy soils, enhance drainage and scale back waste,” says Josie Lewis, head gardener at Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Farm.
“By composting at residence, gardeners can scale back waste, enhance their soil and create a pure, peat-free soil improver that’s kinder to the setting,” agrees Philip Newton, backyard care and upkeep purchaser at Hillier Backyard Centres. “Utilizing your individual compost additionally reduces the necessity for getting bagged compost, significantly peat-based merchandise.”
Philip is an skilled horticultural purchaser with a confirmed monitor file in shaping and elevating backyard product ranges. At Hillier, he leads the choice and negotiation of key backyard classes, combining deep sector information with a robust industrial focus.
Starting his profession within the backyard centre trade over 35 years in the past, Philip progressed via management roles at among the UK’s main backyard centres earlier than shifting into on-line retailing with established heritage manufacturers.
A real plantsman at coronary heart, Philip brings an genuine ardour for horticulture to each choice he makes. He champions sustainability, high quality, and accountable sourcing whereas making certain a robust industrial return. His mix of experience, creativity, and strategic considering continues to help Hillier’s fame for horticultural excellence.
So what backyard waste are you able to add to your compost heap?
“Most delicate backyard waste is ideal for composting, together with grass clippings, fallen leaves, spent vegetation and prunings,” says Philip. “Vegetable peelings, fruit scraps, espresso grounds and crushed eggshells can be added from the kitchen.”
“For the very best outcomes, it’s necessary to steadiness inexperienced supplies, corresponding to contemporary grass clippings with brown supplies like dry leaves, cardboard woody stems. This helps maintain the compost wholesome and breaking down evenly.”
To compost efficiently, select a well-drained spot in your compost bin or heap, ideally in partial shade. Add supplies in layers, combine greens and browns collectively and switch the heap often to introduce air and pace issues alongside. “Common turning retains oxygen flowing and speeds the method dramatically,” says Josie.
“You’ll know when your compost is prepared when it’s darkish, crumbly and smells pleasantly earthy,” says Philip. “It could actually then be used as a peat-free soil conditioner or mulch, serving to to enhance soil naturally throughout the backyard.”
Issues that ought to by no means go in a compost heap
“Keep away from including cooked meals, meat, dairy merchandise or diseased vegetation, as these can entice pests and unfold issues,” says Philip at Hillier. “Thick woody materials ought to be shredded first or reused elsewhere within the backyard.”
“Smelly compost is an indication it’s gone anaerobic, normally from an excessive amount of inexperienced waste and never sufficient air, and should not be used,” provides Josie.
2. Use waste as mulch
“Mulching is the method of protecting soil with a layer of natural or inorganic materials to enhance soil well being, retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate temperature,” explains Peter Chaloner, managing director at Cobra Backyard Equipment. “In garden care particularly, mulching refers to finely reducing grass clippings and returning them to the garden, offering a pure fertiliser impact.
“We suggest it as an eco-friendly strategy to nourish your garden, because it recycles worthwhile vitamins like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium again into the soil, lowering the necessity for artificial fertilisers,” he says. “It additionally promotes wholesome microbial exercise and improves soil construction, leading to a lusher, greener garden.”
Peter is the managing director of Cobra, one of many UK’s main manufacturers of backyard equipment, and Henton & Chattell, one of many largest backyard equipment distributors within the nation. With over 30 years of expertise within the trade, Peter has performed a significant position within the success of Cobra Backyard Equipment, which was launched in 2013. Underneath Peter’s steerage, Cobra has change into a trusted identify within the UK’s backyard equipment and horticultural trade.
Peter is a passionate fanatic on the subject of garden care and seasonal gardening duties. He takes nice satisfaction in sustaining his personal garden and backyard to perfection and is educated about numerous strategies and instruments that can be utilized to realize the very best outcomes.
Store mulching mowers
This great-value mower by Cobra has received a finest purchase award from our sister model T3 and is powered with a 40V battery. It has 5 lower heights starting from 25mm as much as 75mm, and importantly it has a mulch mode that returns finely lower grass clippings again into your garden.
“Mulching is a kind of actually easy duties that gives an entire host of advantages to your backyard, all for a small period of time, effort and cash,” agrees panorama architect Victoria Wade. “Firstly, and maybe most significantly, mulching helps to cut back water loss from the soil, so is particularly good for freer draining soils, or to make use of within the Spring time earlier than the hotter months.”
“If you happen to’re utilizing a biodegradable mulch, which we’d suggest, it improves the soil’s fertility because the mulch breaks down much more and provides vitamins into the soil. It additionally encourages extra soil creatures, like worms, who’re drawn to the extra vitamins, and can drag it via the soil, serving to to unfold the vitamins round in addition to enhance the construction of the soil by aerating it with their tiny tunnels,” she says.
“It could actually additionally assist to suppress weed development, although we do discover that loads of weed seeds are fairly completely satisfied rooting themselves within the mulch itself, so this isn’t (sadly) a idiot proof means of lowering the necessity to ever weed once more,” Victoria continues. ” If utilized within the autumn, the additional layer helps to stop among the worst damages of frost and chilly temperatures for the plant roots, appearing a bit like a blanket excessive layer of soil and preserving it just a little hotter.”
“And, lastly, most mulches look good too – leaving the beds wanting smarter than if they simply have uncovered patches of naked earth.”
With an MA in Panorama Structure, Victoria and her husband Joe established Victoria Wade Panorama Structure in 2013. The thriving Panorama Institute registered follow in Swansea in South Wales has received a number of RHS Gold Medals for its panorama structure and backyard design.
The couple additionally runs a sustainable plant nursery primarily based in Gower in 2022, to provide the vegetation for his or her native initiatives and enhance the effectivity and environmental impression of their provide chain.
Social and environmental sustainability and duty lies on the coronary heart of their method and as such they’re a BCorp Licensed organisation with a dedication to energetic contribution to the 1% For The Planet initiative.
3. Make a leaf mould
For a wholesome garden come spring, clearing the leaves out of your grass ought to be a part of any autumn garden care routine. “It’ll assist stop fungal ailments, and in addition to cease the garden suffocating beneath them,” says Paul Hicks, product and advertising and marketing supervisor at Stihl GB. “Relying on the dimensions of your garden, you possibly can merely use a rake to collect the fallen leaves, or for bigger areas, a leaf blower will make fast work of the job.”
“When you’ve gathered your leaves don’t simply throw them away;” Paul provides. “Leaf mould is simple to create and is a superb soil conditioner. Add your shredded leaves to leaf luggage (or you possibly can put them in an enormous bag with air holes within the sides), add some water, and retailer in an space of your backyard which is open to the weather. After round a 12 months, they’ll have damaged down and can be utilized as a nutrient wealthy mulch to enhance your backyard’s well being.”
Paul recommends utilizing a leaf blower/vacuum combo. “In blower mode, it makes it easy to gather leaves from tricker spots, corresponding to round tree roots, or flower beds – and in vacuum mode, it will possibly acquire them within the connected bag for you, able to be was mould.”
Three of the very best leaf blowers
STIHL
Stihl Sha 56 36v Li-Ion Ak System Brushless Cordless Vacuum Shredder/Leaf Blower – Naked
You may must buy the AK 20 battery individually, however this 2-in-1 blower is the last word in comfort. That is as a result of it will possibly convert simply from highly effective leaf blower to hoover shredder with out the necessity for instruments. The metallic blade on the fan wheel will lower up leaves and twigs as they’re sucked up, so you will get extra into the good-sized 40-litre bag offered. There’s additionally a variable pace set off to manage suction and blowing drive, and padded adjustable shoulder strap for further help.
Bosch
Bosch Cordless Leaf Blower Universalleafblower 18v-130 (for Quick and Simple Out of doors Clearing; 18 Volt System; With out Battery)
If you happen to’re on the lookout for an inexpensive leaf blower, you may do so much worse than this Bosch starter mannequin. It is from fancy, with simply two settings and a modest 22 minute battery life at finest, nevertheless it’s ultimate for smaller gardens and is not too cumbersome to retailer. It takes a single 18V battery (not included) that’s suitable with the Energy For All Alliance system, which can be utilized by Flymo, Gardena and Husqvarna. And the helpful included attachments imply it will possibly additionally blow up paddling swimming pools and inflatable dinghies and kayaks.
WORX
Worx Nitro Wg543e 18v(20v Max) Cordless Leaf Blower – Light-weight 20v Brushless Motor 2.0 Leafjet With 4.0ah Energy Share Battery and Charger
That is one other great-value blower that is tremendous light-weight and extremely simple to make use of. You get a variety of energy for the cash, and the brushless motor guarantees to be each quiet and long-lasting. You may modify the ability between on, off and enhance simply by urgent the button beneath your thumb.
“Including leaf mould additionally encourages extra soil creatures, like worms, who’re drawn to the extra vitamins, and can drag it via the soil, serving to to unfold the vitamins round in addition to enhance the construction of the soil by aerating it with their tiny tunnels,” says Victoria Wade. “Simply remember that completely different leaves break down at completely different speeds, and particularly thick leaves may very well be shredded earlier than being added, to assist pace up their decomposition.”
Prime tip: “The one drawback with leaf mould is that it will possibly fairly simply get crammed with weed seeds,” says Victoria. “The longer you permit it for, the better the prospect of the seeds dying off.”
4. Arrange a no-dig backyard
The no-dig backyard precept of working with the soil, not towards it has change into massively common in recent times amongst first-time gardeners and established consultants alike. “No-dig gardening avoids disturbing the soil construction and the advanced life inside it. As an alternative of digging, fertility is constructed from the highest utilizing natural matter,” explains Josie Lewis.
“This method reduces weed seed germination, protects soil organisms, and produces stronger, more healthy vegetation. The natural matter additionally holds onto moisture and so reduces the necessity to water. It’s additionally far much less labour-intensive. Merely unfold natural matter compost on the floor and plant instantly into it. Earthworms then do the digging for you.”
Marco Maxia joined London-based Terra Firma Landscaping as Japanese Knotweed Professional in 2022 and specialises in invasive plant administration and delicate landscaping. He leads website assessments, develops remedy methods, and implements sustainable landscaping options, offering technical experience throughout the enterprise.
So how do you incorporate backyard waste into the no-dig method?
“The commonest is the ‘cardboard methodology’, the place you place wetted plain cardboard (no tape, shiny print, or plastic) over mow or flattened vegetation,” explains Marco Maxia, Head of Horticulture at Terra Firma Landscapes.
“You then add 5–10 cm (2–4 in) of compost and an optionally available mulch layer on high, created from current backyard waste.”
“You can additionally merely cease digging your current beds, including home made compost on high a couple of times a 12 months in early spring and late autumn,” he says. “Mulch generously with leaf mould and skinny layers of grass clippings to suppress weeds, feed soil life and retain moisture.”
Prime tip: All the time resist the urge to dig. “Even occasional digging disrupts soil life and breaks fungal networks,” says Marco. “And do not introduce any plastic boundaries to the soil as this can stop water and root motion. Cardboard breaks down naturally—plastic doesn’t.”
5. Create a wildlife habitat
Some bigger items of backyard waste won’t be fairly proper in your compost heap, however they do have one other use.
“Piles of logs or offcut branches are nice locations for animals to make a house and so they can look actually enticing in a backyard, too,” says Victoria Wade. “You may merely stack up a pile of outdated logs, sited someplace shady, and depart them to decay. It’ll quickly change into a house to many bugs and bugs, which in flip will entice birds, frogs and possibly even hedgehogs.”
Simply do not forget that many of those creatures will want a protected entry and exit route. “Leaving a small hole beneath your fence will create a wildlife hall, permitting hedgehogs, frogs and even newts to wander from backyard to backyard,” Victoria suggests.
If you happen to love this concept and would really like one thing on a much bigger scale, you may go a step additional and take into account constructing a useless hedge – a type of home-made fence – along with your offcuts.
And logs aren’t the one backyard waste you should use to make a protected place for animals. “Leaves can be utilized for overwintering bugs, hedgehogs and frogs,” says Marco Maxia at Terra Firma Landscapes. “You may merely rake them into quiet corners, pile them beneath shrubs or bushes or place them on flower beds as winter cowl. Simply watch out to not smother lawns excessively.”
“Useless stems and plant stalks can be a haven for solitary bees and overwintering bugs,” Marco provides. “Fairly than lower all the things again in autumn, depart stems standing over winter, bundling hole stems collectively.”
Marco additionally recommends leaving seed heads and spent flowers be over winter in order that birds and bugs can feed on them. “However no matter habitat you make, by no means use pesticides or herbicides close by, do not disturb piles steadily, and by no means place habitats in very uncovered, dry places,” he warns.
6. Join inexperienced waste assortment
When you have giant portions of backyard waste or maybe not sufficient house to create your individual compost heap, it’s possible you’ll want a extra nuclear possibility for eradicating your backyard waste. That is the place your native council comes into play.
Most councils now provide devoted companies for accumulating backyard waste. Whereas it my not be fairly as eco-friendly as utilizing these cuttings and leaves in your individual backyard because of the carbon footprint created by the vehicles accumulating the waste, and the bins created to retailer it, your backyard detritus will nonetheless be utilized in constructive methods. For instance, London Recycles works in collaboration with native London borough councils to make sure that backyard waste is was compost.
Usually, you will should pay a price for this service. This author’s native council, Central Bedfordshire, costs £56.10 per bin for a fortnightly assortment. Subscriptions run from the start of April to the tip of March, with a break from December to February when gardens are sometimes dormant.
Somerset Council affords a fortnightly wheeled bin assortment subscription for £73.50. You can even prepare for baggage of backyard waste to be collected for a price.
There will likely be restrictions on what you possibly can put in your backyard waste bin. A typical checklist is likely to be:
- Flowers and vegetation
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves
- Small branches (lower than 15cm or 6 inches huge) and bark
- Straw or sawdust
You might be able to add bedding materials from pet cages, however normally solely in small portions and solely you probably have family vegetarian pets, corresponding to rabbits and hamsters. Hen bedding will not be allowed.
Issues that will not rely as backyard waste embody plastics (together with plant pots and soil packaging); metallic, glass, stone, rubble, ceramics or clay flower pots; meals and animal waste; handled wooden and invasive vegetation like Japanese knotweed.
The one factor NOT to do…
Why you should not burn backyard waste
One tempting strategy to eliminate backyard waste – significantly useless wooden or damaged fence panels – is to burn them in a backyard bonfire. However how to do that safely? We contacted fireplace brigades throughout the nation for his or her recommendation on the disposal of backyard waste by burning, and their recommendation was an nearly common ‘do not’.
“Our normal recommendation is to keep away from burning backyard waste,” says Kimberly Colclough, fireplace prevention officer, West Yorkshire Fireplace & Rescue Service. “These kind of fires can simply get uncontrolled and unfold to fences, sheds, and properties – inflicting vital harm and danger to life. We encourage individuals use cumbersome/backyard waste collections or recycling companies as an alternative.”
One other challenge of burning even untreated wooden is that it releases dangerous particles, particularly nice particulate matter referred to as PM2.5, so it truly is finest averted.
Kimberly Colclough
Kim is prevention assurance and enchancment staff coverage coordinator at West Yorkshire Fireplace & Rescue Service (WTFRS).
The WYFRS is one in all six metropolitan brigades in England and one of many busiest within the nation, protecting the districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Kim’s staff is accountable for working with communities and younger individuals to drive down accidents and accidents. Final 12 months, firefighters and specialist workers carried out 309,719 residence fireplace security checks.
Kimberly additionally advises to take away flamable gadgets, corresponding to broken fencing and cardboard, from out of doors areas promptly. “Retailer them safely or eliminate them through your native authority,” she says.
And whilst you could also be inside your authorized rights to burn backyard waste on non-public land, that is not all the time the case. “Verify native council steerage – backyard bonfires could also be restricted or topic to nuisance guidelines,” she says. “And if you happen to’re renting, assessment your tenancy settlement. Many landlords prohibit burning backyard waste on rented properties.”
To conclude, there’s loads you are able to do with backyard waste as you clear a backyard for winter. However if you happen to’re clearing your backyard, be sure you do not hurt hedgehogs and different wildlife. We even have loads of methods to make your backyard extra eco-friendly.
To chop down on waste going ahead, look to our low-maintenance backyard concepts and easy-to-care-for gravel backyard.
