By Piers66
Surrey,
United Kingdom 
Can I dig green waste straight into the soil instead of composting?
I've just dug out an old bed, about 5' across, that had blackthorn and sycamore saplings in it. I've removed all the old roots (and bits of old concrete!). My plan is to transplant a camellia in there and add some other smaller plants. At the moment the top 6 inches or so of soil is in a separate heap waiting to be put back.
I have loads of compost (mostly grass) from this summer that's not rotted down much yet. Can I mix some of it straight in with the remaining soil when I put it back, or should I only use rotted compost?
11 Sep, 2019
Answers
We once dug up a lawn,which we no longer wanted,and put all the turves upside down in a border,then added the top soil..it rotted down quickly,,and had no weeds either,so yes,I would go for it ..
11 Sep, 2019
That's what I do with my banana peels, orange peels, oh yeh potato skins.
11 Sep, 2019
https://www.veggiegardener.com/use-direct-composting-in-your-garden/
11 Sep, 2019
I would put it back in the compost bin but layer it with some other material. Green material will use up the natural nitrogen that is present in the soil as it breaks down.
12 Sep, 2019
Thanks everyone for the advice.
Jimmytheone, I'm confused. Isn't the point about green material that it's nitrogen rich? Why does it use up nitrogen in the soil when breaking down?
13 Sep, 2019
You can grow some seeds as legumes similar to peas and beans as green manure as they fix nitrogen as nodules around their roots so they add it to the soil. Ordinary material such as green grass cuttings will be broken down by bacteria which will use up the natural nitrogen in the soil to thrive. That is why its best to let the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in you compost heap do the job to begin with.
15 Sep, 2019
Yes you can small amounts here and there. Just mix it in real good. I call it 'feeding the worms'. Grass clippings disappear very quickly.
11 Sep, 2019