It’s finally March and temperatures are warming up enough to get back outside. This means I get to do some much needed spring cleaning of my backyard. While it’s still too early to start mowing the grass, it’s a great time to prep and pick up all the sticks and branches that have fallen from the nearby oak tree- and there are plenty of them, ranging in various sizes. I know woodchips make a good carbon source for my compost, but some of these branches won’t fit in my bin. What now?
Break Up Your Branches
Even if my bin was much larger, I probably wouldn’t want to
put large wood chunks into it because they could take years to break down. If
you have lots of space and lots of patience, they will break down eventually,
but that’s not for me and my small backyard. For a standard compost pile or
compost bin, it’s recommended that branches should be cut, shredded, or chipped
into pieces that are two inches or smaller for quicker decomposition. A rule of
thumb is that branches smaller than your pinky will usually break down just
fine.
Use Branches for Gardening
Also called Hugelkultur,
you can use your branches and larger woody materials to build a garden. These
materials can make great filler for the bottom of raised beds. They reduce the volume
of soil and compost needed to get started, and they provide drainage at the
base of the bed. Don’t feel like you are restricted to a certain type of bed or
shape, you can get creative with it and make garden mounds to create interest
in your yard.
Utilize a Yard Trimmings Collection or Drop-Off Program
If breaking up the branches or woody debris or creating a Hugelkultur
garden bed is not for you, you can always utilize a local service. Many
communities have brush pickup or chipping options. Some have scheduled pickup
days during the month, others will allow you to schedule a pickup of branches
and brush left on the curb. The community will often use the woody material for
their maintenance needs.
If you don’t have a pickup service option and live in
Hamilton County, you can take this material for free to a yard
trimmings drop-off site, which will open March 21, 2026. All the
material from this program is composted or mulched locally.
Extra Tip:
If you have too much woody debris, don’t burn it to get rid
of it- this is called “open burning.” Open burning is restricted by the Ohio
EPA, and is not an approved method of disposal… yes, even for yard trimmings. Find
out more about open burning here.
Compost Blogger: Sam Goubeaux
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