Apples for Mulch?

Q: I have 3 apple trees in my backyard. Are apples good for the mulch pile? There are a lot of apples that fall on the ground and rot before I get to them.

Thank you!

pakjc

A: Pakjc,

Certain diseases like Apple Scab can sometimes survive the heat of the compost pile. This also hold true for the larvae of apple maggots (not to be confused with codling moths). If you suspect that any of your fruits are diseased, dispose of them another way. However, as long as the apples from your trees are free from disease, there is no reason not to compost those that fall on the ground and start rotting before you get to them. Whole apples will break down eventually, but you will get much faster results if you cut them up into smaller pieces. Bruising apples will also invite composting bacteria to them more quickly. Make sure to mix in plenty of "browns" with these "greens" to ensure a proper nitrogen/carbon balance in the heap.