can i compost

hello folks, first post.

can i compost cordyline tree leaves? i've just started composting and i'm struggling to fill the composter from my small garden but there's 2 of the trees in the garden that grow really well leaving a fair amount of dead leaves to cut off as they go.
i've also just removed a small conifer to make space for the composter, can i put the finer bits off that in there?

thanks very much,

mike.

 

Welcome to GC Mike!
You can certainly compost the cordyline leaves though they'll rot faster if you chop them into short bits.
I've never tried composting conifer and suspect that although it will rot down, it may take a year or two and I think that unless well mixed it makes fairly acidic compost.
When I had conifers I used any small trimmings on paths - they make a nice fragrant mulch and slowly decompose. Any larger bits I stacked and burned and then used the ash on the garden.

 

thanks very much dave :thumb:, i'll chop the cordyline up and give it a stir. not really got enough space to deal with the conifer though so it'll go in the brown bin once i've hacked off the root ball.

 

Does it take long for cordyline australis leaves to rot down in a composter? I have a plastic one, not hot, worms working there. I just collected all the leaves my plant shedded. I used to get those to the tip, but maybe I can use those. Just don't want them to sit in the composter forever.

 

I usually put them in the council bin, I dont think they rot down well, they are very fibrous, that not to say they wont I just prefer to get shot of them, Fatsia leaves are another one I dont compost.

 

That's what I thought.
When I tried to cut them into smaller pieces with a garden scissors it didn't work. Probably they go to the tip green waste container again.

 

I tried them in a shredder and they just jam it up, there are some really strong fibres there.

 

Would probably make for ideal basket weaving strands!