• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • AndrĂ©s Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Composting thorny material

 
Posts: 13
Location: Mesa, AZ, United States
8
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Does anyone have experience composting thorns? I want to bring in some free mulch from a tree service as my desert lot is too barren for me to gather enough material. The only problem is that the mulch will have a lot of thorns (from mesquite and palo verde I'm guessing). If I hot compost and turn it really well will these break down enough that I can use the material where my kids play without them being stabbed in the foot constantly?
Thanks!
 
gardener & author
Posts: 640
Location: South Alabama
133
2
forest garden books
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've buried thorny branches from my Key Lime tree and my Jerusalem thorn tree beneath a layer of mulch and other material. The thorns break down eventually.

Another thing you can do is use the thorny material to make biochar which can later be added to your compost pile.
 
I can't beleive you just said that. Now I need to calm down with this tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic