Common Types of Garden Waste

Posted on 17/09/2024

Common Types of Garden Waste

Gardening is a wonderfully rewarding activity, with the joys of growing plants, vegetables and herbs in our own backyards. But it can also be a source of a great deal of waste. From branches to dead leaves, various types of garden waste are produced as part of the gardening process. Here we'll take a look at the most common types of garden waste and how they can be recycled or reused.

Grass Clippings

When mowing your lawn or tending to grassy areas, one of the main types of garden waste that needs to be disposed of is grass clippings. These can generally be composted and used as mulch around trees, shrubs and other plants. If you have a problem with weeds in your garden then you should avoid putting grass clippings on those areas as they can contain weed seeds. Composting is preferable for these clippings if possible, although small amounts can be added to the green bin collection.

Leaves

Leaves are another type of garden waste that forms part of the natural cycle over the year. They are rich in nutrients and beneficial for gardens if they are left to decompose naturally. Leaves that have been raked up into piles around the garden can either be placed in compost heaps or collected by local authorities for composting elsewhere. Again adding them to your local green bin collection is an option but should only be done when absolutely necessary.

Twigs and Branches

Where possible twigs and branches should not be removed from their original location as they provide habitat for wildlife such as birds and insects as well as helping break down organic matter in soils. Twigs and branches that have been cut down or pruned off can however be composted quite easily. It's important to remember though never to put anything larger than about 10 centimetres in diameter into home or garden compost bins - these larger pieces need to go into the green bin collection or will have to be taken to a recycling centre to be disposed of properly.

Weeds

In regards to weeds it's always best practice not to pull them out but instead use chemical-free techniques such as steam weeding or spot spraying with organic herbicides which will biodegrade naturally without leaving any toxic residues behind. Weeds that have already been pulled out can either be placed on the surface layer of compost heaps where they will decompose quite quickly, or else placed in plastic bags and left at the side for green bin collection pickup along with any other organic waste that cannot be composted onsite such as food scraps or meat products.

Tree Bark

Tree bark is another type of garden waste that may arise from pruning tasks carried out periodically throughout the year, particularly if trees exceed 15 metres in height when pruning is essential for safety reasons. Tree bark can vary significantly in size from small thin strips all the way up to large chunks which make it difficult to dispose of effectively unless taken directly to a recycling centre where it can be disposed of appropriately. Generally speaking however it's better practice when dealing with large volumes of tree bark simply to leave them onsite where they can act as protective layers around tree roots and help control soil temperature levels throughout winter months when temperatures drop significantly below zero degrees Celsius (32?F).

General Waste

Finally general household waste must also be considered when looking at common types of garden waste as many gardens usually have some sort of patio or decking area connected to them where general waste may accumulate if not disposed off properly either via curbside collections or taken directly to landfill sites (which are not recommended). It's therefore important always keep these areas clean by taking regular trips outside with bags full of general rubbish which needs disposing off properly rather than just accumulating onsite over time and becoming an eyesore within your own backyard or garden landscape!