Hey everyone! My neighbor's tree has dropped a bunch of crab apples into my garden – I've got about four bucket loads of them. I can't use the garden waste bin for disposal, so I'm hoping to gather some creative ideas on how to properly dispose of them. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
One option is to pile the crab apples along your hedge. Birds, especially blackbirds, really love fallen fruit during winter and could use the extra food this season, especially since they're facing a few challenges with viruses right now. It’s a win-win!
Another idea is to create a mesh wire column and stack the fallen fruit in there. It’ll break down over time and also provide food for insects. Just make sure to place it away from your home so you don’t attract any unwanted pests. Plus, using a rake can help gather them easily!
If you're not keen on letting the fruit go to waste, consider composting them. Just check if your compost heap can handle it, though, since some places advise against putting fallen fruit in the bins. Always nice to keep the garden bed nutrient-rich and attract birds as well!
Yeah, we've been adding crab apples to our compost too! Hope it doesn't backfire on us.
You could also cut them in half. I hear that speeds up their decomposition.
If you're feeling adventurous, try making crab apple jelly! It pairs perfectly with roast lamb – super tasty and a great way to use those apples instead of just tossing them.
Totally agree! I just leave my fallen apples out for wildlife too. They appreciate it.