Adding shreddings to the compost bin
Make the most of garden shreddings by adding them to your compost bin - here's how.
If you have access to a garden shredder and have lots of shreddings after doing some pruning around the garden, be sure to make the most of them - they can help to make great garden compost.
Find out how to prune your plants.
As the shredded stems are finely chopped, they pack down to fit into the compost bin neatly, without taking up too much space. They will break down more quickly, too.
Find out how to make great garden compost.
Follow our tips for adding garden shreddings to your compost bin or heap, below.
Mix with other materials
Mix shreddings with other material, such as grass clippings and kitchen waste, to ensure a good blend of green and brown material. This is a great way to compost grass clippings, which are often too dense to break down on their own.
Stir the compost
Turn or stir your compost when you mix the shreddings, to mix all the ingredients together and incorporate plenty of air.
Don't compact the shreddings
Don't compact the shreddings by forcing them down - you need to allow air to circulate.
Keep the compost damp
If your compost is very dry, then water it. Dry material won't rot down, but neither will soggy material - you need to get the balance right.
Mix brown and green material
To make good compost, you need a balance of 'brown' and 'green' material. The green, such as leaves and grass clippings, provides nitrogen, and the brown (such as woody clippings or cardboard) provides carbon.
Jan subscription offer
Get our Year Planner 2025 with a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine. Get 6 issues for £14.99.
Your Guide to Roses on sale now
Love roses? Inside our guide is everything you need to know for success with your blooms, from pruning to problem solving. On sale in stores and online now!
Discover our NEW Travel & Events Brochure
Whether it's the vibrant beauty of Madeira's Flower Festival or the quiet luxury of a Cornish shepherd's hut, our NEW Travel & Events Brochure is your guide to unforgettable experiences.
New podcast series
Give your mental and physical health a boost, with our new Wellness podcast series from Monty and the team.
