Composting question, sort of
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Composting question, sort of
- From: B*@aol.com
- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 10:52:36 EST
I've observed something new to me and wonder if anyone knows whta is going
on. I always have a lot of woody trimmings, and the trees in the woods shed
a lot too. So I shred up the wood and usually put the chips on paths and
such. Last year, however, I was busy and just dumped all the shreddings into
some wooden boxes I had. These boxes have slatted bottoms and are about 2' x
4 to 5' and about a foot deep. I went to use these chips the other week and
here's what I found:
One box had significant decomposition and I used the chips at the bottom of a
new bed I was double-digging (Oh, my achin' back). I went to do the same
with the other two boxes and there was no decomposition. Instead, the boxes
were full of very stiff, black, wirelike roots that held all the chips
together. The first box did not have significant contact with the ground for
the past year, but the other two did. Something grew in that box, but it
didn't seem to be from the ground because the boxes did not seem to be
attached to the ground.
Has anyone else seen this? What is it? Were some of the chips actually
trying to grow?
Bill Lee
Z6a Cincinnati
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