Cherry laurel is known to be poisonous, which is why its plant parts cannot be used in the kitchen. However, you can definitely use the leaves for compost, for example. However, you should chop them up first. We'll explain to you how chopping cherry laurel works.
Can you chop up cherry laurel and compost it?
Chopping cherry laurel is possible and makes composting easier. Use a shredder, wear protective clothing and chop the plant parts into pieces a few centimeters in size. The shreds decompose in the compost in about nine months.
Can you chop cherry laurel?
You can chop up the leaves and other plant parts of the cherry laureland add them to the compost However, there are a few things to keep in mind during both the chopping process and the subsequent composting so that you neither endanger yourself nor other living beings unnecessarily.
What is the best way to chop cherry laurel?
To chop cherry laurel, it is best to use achopper A turbine shredder works quickly and quietly. Alternatively, you can use a knife (fast but loud) or roller shredder (quieter but also slower) to shred the leathery leaves and thin branches.
It is also important to wearprotective clothing including robust gardening gloves when chopping. This will prevent your skin from coming into contact with the potentially allergy-causing toxins that are contained in all parts of the cherry laurel plant.
How big should the cherry laurel shreds be?
The cherry laurel shreds should beas small as possible. There is no exact measurement. But if you shred the leaves and other plant parts of the cherry laurel intocuts a few centimeters in size, it is ideal for composting.
Tip
Chopped cherry laurel leaves rot so quickly
The smaller the shredded leaves and other plant parts of the cherry laurel, the faster they decompose in the compost. It usually doesn't take longer than three quarters of a year for them to rot. You can speed up the process by adding a compost starter.
