spent hops – mulch or compost?

[bluebell]

I have just had a delivery of spent hops from a local brewery Im told it is realy good for the garden and since I am short of space I wondered if I could just place it around my fruit trees/ bushes of if I should compost it first?

[charles]

Yes that is a good idea, keep good compost for vegetables and less decomposed mulches for larger, woody plants where the weed suppressive effects can last for longer, and slugs are not an issue.

[Leif]

I get used hops from the local brewery too. I once mulched at the base of a privet hedge I had recently planted. The hops dried and became very light. Then blackbirds hopped around, snuffling down into the hops, and spreading them everywhere, in the search for worms. It was endearing albeit annoying. If you don’t mind some hops blowing around, go for it. I find they compost slowly for some reason, but the mulch worked.

[Author]

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