recycled hedge

Hi all this is my first question on gardeners corner so here goes, I have just reduced a large hedge at home by half and am left with a lot of stout branches. If I hire a skip to get rid of them it will cost me £170 and needing two I coughed a bit at the thought so I am thinking of putting them through my shredder and using them as a mulch around the shrubs over weed suppressant. However I have a vague idea this may rob the soil of nitrogen, does anyone have any thoughts on this and would it help if I left the chippings for six months or longer.
Brian.

 

Hi Brian,

It will leech the nitrogen out so not a good idea to chuck it straight in. You could hire a shredder-or you could stack up somewhere dry until the local kids knock on asking for wood for the bonfire-November isn`t that far away. Shredders cost about 50 quid for the day and you can chuck that in the composter with some Garotta and it should be ready in a few mths for good muching.

 

Good morning claire, nice that you confirm my own thoughts I will leave the chippings for six months before using them.
Brian.