Quick runner bean question please?

@shiney mentioned in the past gardeners used to dig a trench 2 foot deep and line it with newspaper, we don’t have newspapers but wondered if shredded paper would work? I have access to loads of this from work but it is shredded very small, would it go to pulp and not have the same effect?

Thank you, Tink

 

Shredded paper is good, I'm not sure if there are any ink issues.
Mix it in the compost on the compost heap as well.
You will need to make sure it's soaked.

 

Thank you @pete and @shiney I’ve emptied the shredder and it will be winging its way home with me. Fab to know it can go on the compost heap too, my dalek is too much food prep choppings so will be doing a good job there too thank you.

 

@Tinkerbelle61 I used shredded paper to overwinter my tubers and rhyzomes and in the past I did mix some into the garden. It took forever to break down in the garden but it seems to me that you want it to decompose slowly if your are using it as "liner" so shredded paper would be fab for the job.

 

When I was little I used to help my dad put paper in the K Bean trench. He used to scrunch it up, I don't know if it makes any difference. It was meant to retain moisture.

 

Ohh @pete do you mean soaked before it goes in the bean trench or soaked before it goes in the compost bin please?

 

Both really, as Michael says it's for retaining moisture rather than anything else, so throw it in the trench then water it well, likewise if you put it in the compost it needs to be wet, but you could add small amounts at a time in the dry state especially in winter.

 

They say todays printing inks are compost safe, though its hard to establish which are or are not, particularly things like injet and laser printer inks/toners ?

Seems a lot of cartons etc with coloured printing also have a plastic content to protect them so we do not compost them.

The raw brown and corrugated cardboard packaging like amazon boxes etc and kitchen and toilet roll centers are said to be the best to use.

Just things change so much , its hard to know /keep up at times !

 

I've been composting some cardboard boxes but I find the masses of parcel tape on them a real pain TBH and often just put them in the recycle bin and let someone else sort it out.