Does anyone know the best way to compost woody shrubs? Cut small, If you're using the compost for mulching it doesn't really matter if the twigs aren't completely rotted, what you need is them short enough not to make it difficult to shovel the compost. Andthing that's too big for the secateurs to manage, stack up as a "habitat pile" in the back of a border somewhere.
If you have space, you could have two heaps, one for fine twigs and all the usual stuff, the other for the thicker twigs (although add some grass cuttings and soil now and again to help it along) which you leave for a couple of years before using.
@TiddleTaddleTat You'd know by now if they weren't OK.
@NewYearNewTwatName They always take a lot longer than you expect. Best to avoid poking - you might knock a shoot off.
@jcurve About 6 ft, although they'll grow taller if you let them - I let mine scramble over a large hazel bush, and had to use a stepladder for picking.
I've grown butternut squash in a large tub for lack of anything else - one squash per plant, so not really worth it.
@KateF I would use the usable stuff. Is the dry stuff broken down? ie is it basically dry soil with bits in? In that case, water it well and use that too. The eggshells are not a problem.
If you have a stack of weeds waiting to go in, I would sandwich that with anything not already rotted, otherwise, just put the unrotted stuff at the bottom as a starter. If it's dry, give it a good water.