Prunings: composting

Shredded prunings, either home-produced or from a tree care company. Compost for a few months before use, on perennial beds only, or use fresh on paths. 

After pruning, remove the old straw mulch. Spread garden compost along the row to help dead stubs rot down. In alternate springs, give plants a boost with an organic fertilizer (see pp.54-55) if reguired. 

What to do Grow resistant apples such as Ellison s Orange and Court Pendu Plat. Mow the ground below trees to shred leaves and speed decomposition, or collect leaves and compost them. Cut out and burn diseased twigs. Prune apple trees to maintain good air circulation. 

What to do Prune out affected branches and remove fruit from the tree. Pick up windfalls. Do not compost any of this material. Take care not to damage fruit that is to be stored. Do not store any diseased fruit. Prune out cankers and diseased spurs. 

The soil is maintained and improved with organic compost and fertilisers which can be made from a range of materials including animal manures and waste products from the fermentation, which are usually composted and spread on the ground under the vines. Typical composting material includes yeast deposits, sediment, marc, vine leaves, prunings and straw. 

Once they get started, bacterial diseases are generally difficult to control. Pick or prune off infected plant parts as soon as you spot them. Be sure to dip pruning shears in a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) between cuts. Bury the infected pieces in the center of a hot compost pile or dispose of them with household trash. Certain sprays, such as copper compounds, are partially effective, but will not control these diseases when used alone. Bacteriophages (viruses that cause disease in bacteria) may one day find more widespread use against bacterial diseases. 

Plant resistant cultivars when available. Reduce the incidence of root rot with good cultural practices Plant in well-drained soil, do not overwater, and direct surface water away from the crown of plants. Incorporating compost into the soil may also help to prevent some types of root rot. If a plant is diseased, you may be able to save it by pulling the soil back away from the crown, pruning off diseased roots, and allowing the remaining exposed roots to air-dry. Also, disinfect tools after use with a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) so that you do not spread disease from infested to healthy soil. Remove and destroy seriously infected plants. 

Rogue and prune. Pull plants with symptoms of disease or heavy insect infestation and prune diseased sections from perennial plants. A hot compost pile will kill pathogenic fungi and bacteria. If you suspect viral infections, bury the prunings in an out-of-the-... 

Shred or chop large pieces. Shredding or chopping woody pruning debris, tree bark, and newspapers exposes more surface area to the decomposing organisms active in compost, which helps speed the process. 

Prune tent caterpillars and their webs from plants and burn, crush, or hot compost them. 

Kostov, O. Tzvetkov, Y., Kalonianova, N. and Cleemput, V. (1996). Production of tomato seedlings on compost of vine branches, grape pruning, husk and seeds. Compost Science and Utilization, 4 55-61. 

Prune the canes to 10 in (25 cm) once planted. In the spring, weed well, mulch with garden compost, and add an organic fertilizer. 

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