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Old 01-03-2006, 08:51 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
louisxiv
 
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Default Newbie Questions


"Rusty Hinge 2" wrote in message
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2. There is a very old compost heap at the back of the garden which I
don't
think has been touched for years. It has roots (Privet and Elder)
growing
all the way through it.

Sure they aren't nettles? Are they yellow?


Quite sure. they're thick roots

So are nettle roots in fertile ground - thick as your finger, sometimes.

Doeas this mean it will have no nutrients or is it
worth spreading it anyway?

I'd bag it up, then spread it out on a sheet of polythene (cheap from
builders' merchants - ask for 'membrane'.) in the spring and let the
weeds grow. There *WILL* be weeds. Then, when the weeds are growing
nicely, let the compost dry right out, remove dead weeds or incorporate
them with the compost.


Dry it out in Spring? Could be tricky!

Why? Just gather the spare plastic and cover the compost until it''s
stopped raining.

Ah!