Composting Privet / Ligustrum not safe?

Henk Lenting

Posts: 15

Location: Roodeschool the Netherlands

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posted 2 years ago

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I have a large privet hedge on my property that needs regular trimming, and I've been composting piles and piles of those trimmings.

However, a local government pamflet said that you cannot compost Ligustrum trimmings. When I enquired, they couldn't tell me why.

Can anyone tell me if/why I maybe shouldn't compost them? There are never berries in these trimmings by the way.

We live on a quarter acre plot on the edge of a small rural village, and I keep discovering more things I enjoy about working with my land, growing foods, growing soil.
Just slowly turning into a big weirdo, while ascending the Wheaton Eco Scale.

Phil Stevens

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Posts: 2023

Location: Ashhurst New Zealand (Cfb - oceanic temperate)

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posted 2 years ago

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I compost or make biochar with any privet that I find growing on the property, as it is a noxious weed here. I guess your local council may be concerned about seed spread. A hot compost will kill most seeds and a little vigilance will help you root out any unwanted seedlings. Apart from that, I cannot think of a reason not to compost it...it's good biomass, after all.

Kate Flood

Posts: 33

Location: Australia

posted 2 years ago

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Hi Phil,
I agree that it is likely because of the concerns about the highly invasive seeds. Hot composting and biochar are wonderful solutions - just like the saying goes "compost problems and grow solutions".

Kate

Phil Stevens wrote:I compost or make biochar with any privet that I find growing on the property, as it is a noxious weed here. I guess your local council may be concerned about seed spread. A hot compost will kill most seeds and a little vigilance will help you root out any unwanted seedlings. Apart from that, I cannot think of a reason not to compost it...it's good biomass, after all.

The Compost Coach is a colourful, comprehensive and accessible guide to creating the very best compost AKA garden gold. Check out my book here: https://geni.us/TheCompostCoach & my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/compostable.kate/

Henk Lenting

Posts: 15

Location: Roodeschool the Netherlands

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Phil Stevens wrote:I cannot think of a reason not to compost it...it's good biomass, after all.

A rule I can totally live by!

I live in The Netherlands though, Privet isn't invasive here but rather quite common.

It does take a while to break down and may not compost very well in small "home-composters" of like 200 liters. Maybe that's what they were going on about.

The moth suit and wings road is much more exciting than taxes. Or this tiny ad:

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