How to recycle hedge trimming waste?

Hedge trimming waste can quickly accumulate in a garden, but rather than throwing it away or taking it to the dump, it's possible to recycle it directly on-site. This plant residue can be beneficially reused to enrich and protect your soil. Among the most effective methods, shredding and mulching stand out. Here's how to recycle this waste and why mulching is an excellent solution.

1. Grinding and mulching: protecting and nourishing the soil

Mulching is one of the best ways to recycle hedge trimmings. It involves shredding branches and leaves into wood chips, which are then placed around plants to protect the soil.

How does the grinding take place?

To create mulch from your hedge trimmings, it's essential to shred the branches and leaves. This is done using a wood chipper , a tool specially designed to reduce branches, twigs, and other green waste to small chips.

Step 1: Choose a suitable grinder
There are two main types of shredders: disc shredders and rotor shredders. The former are more suitable for small branches and leaves, while the latter are ideal for shredding thicker branches. If you have hedges with branches larger than 3 cm in diameter, it is recommended to opt for a rotor shredder.

Step 2: Grind the branches
Feed the branches and pruning residue into the shredder. The blades or rotor will reduce these items to chips, which are ideal for use as mulch. The smaller the branches are cut into, the faster they will decompose once placed on the ground.

Step 3: Store or use directly
Once shredded, you can use the waste immediately around your plants or store it for later use. Mulch should be spread in a layer of approximately 5 to 10 cm around shrubs, trees, and flowerbeds for maximum effectiveness.

The benefits of mulching with hedge clippings

• Moisture Retention : Mulching helps reduce water evaporation from the soil, reducing your watering needs.
• Soil protection : It protects the soil against temperature variations, preventing plant roots from being overexposed to cold or heat.
• Weed Reduction : By blocking sunlight, mulch prevents weeds from germinating and growing.
• Soil enrichment : As it gradually decomposes, the mulch from your hedge trimmings releases nutrients that nourish the soil and improve its structure.

2. The alternative to mulching, composting: a natural enrichment for the soil

Composting is one of the most common ways to recycle green waste. By adding hedge trimmings to your compost bin, you can create a nutrient-rich natural fertilizer that will improve the health of your soil.

Tips for successful composting:

• Alternate brown and green materials : Hedge branches and leaves are carbon-rich brown materials, which should be mixed with nitrogen-rich green materials (such as vegetable peelings).
• Shred the branches : To facilitate decomposition, branches should be reduced to small pieces. Thick branches, if not shredded, take a long time to decompose.
• Aerate regularly : To prevent the compost from becoming too compact, remember to stir it to introduce oxygen.

Conclusion: favor mulching for efficient recycling

Shredding hedge trimmings into mulch is both practical and environmentally friendly. Not only do you reduce your green waste, but you also improve the health of your garden. Mulch protects your plants, enriches the soil, and helps you save water. It's an ideal solution for anyone looking to recycle their plant waste while promoting a sustainable and healthy garden.

So, before throwing away your branches after pruning, think about shredding and mulching: your garden will thank you!