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Which weeds should NOT be composted?
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? -- Chris |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
Chris ] wrote in ]:
Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? As far as I know Japanese Knot Weed is the only one NOT to compost, and I am only repeating what has been said over the years. Always compost weeds, BUT NOT WHEN IN SEED! The seed can, and will, survive a good few years. Baz |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
In message , Baz
writes Chris ] wrote in ]: Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? As far as I know Japanese Knot Weed is the only one NOT to compost, and I am only repeating what has been said over the years. Always compost weeds, BUT NOT WHEN IN SEED! The seed can, and will, survive a good few years. Baz The only stuff (apart from seeds) that I have found to survive composting is the corms of Crocosmia. I'd be nervous about ivy and bindweed. Prickly thistle, dandelion and couch grass don't seem to be a problem. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:37:07 +0100, Chris ] wrote:
Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Have a look at: http://www.compostthis.co.uk/item/weeds Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the dry end of Swansea Bay. |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
"Chris" wrote
Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Of that list I do not compost Couch Grass (twitch) as I have seen it survive composting and ruin a heap by growing through it. Bindweed can survive so I don't compost that either. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:35:56 +0100, Jake
wrote: On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:37:07 +0100, Chris ] wrote: Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Have a look at: http://www.compostthis.co.uk/item/weeds I should have added that a lot depends on how you compost stuff. If you have a large "hot" heap, and mix it well, the heat will deal with a lot of weed material but "dalek" composters rarely get hot enough to do the job properly. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the dry end of Swansea Bay. |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
In article ,
Jake wrote: I should have added that a lot depends on how you compost stuff. If you have a large "hot" heap, and mix it well, the heat will deal with a lot of weed material but "dalek" composters rarely get hot enough to do the job properly. I run a cold heap, and have almost no trouble. It is really only bluebells and a few very durable, mature seeds that survive. But my heaps are large, and take 18 months to complete. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On 26/04/2012 12:24, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Chris" wrote Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Of that list I do not compost Couch Grass (twitch) as I have seen it survive composting and ruin a heap by growing through it. Bindweed can survive so I don't compost that either. I just leave them to mature on the path for a couple of weeks before adding them to the compost heap and same for ground elder. I don't compost diseased alliums but apart from that everything else goes on. My heap does run fairly hot form time to time 70+C. Only once has it got so far as actually smouldering. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On 26/04/2012 10:37, Chris wrote:
Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Most seedless weeds can be composted. If it's a known vigorous weed, leave it to die before adding to the heap. Japanese Knotweed should not be composted. See link below:- http://www.wasteaware.org.uk/db/material.cfm?id=91 -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... On 26/04/2012 12:24, Bob Hobden wrote: "Chris" wrote Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Of that list I do not compost Couch Grass (twitch) as I have seen it survive composting and ruin a heap by growing through it. Bindweed can survive so I don't compost that either. I just leave them to mature on the path for a couple of weeks before adding them to the compost heap and same for ground elder. I don't compost diseased alliums but apart from that everything else goes on. My heap does run fairly hot form time to time 70+C. Only once has it got so far as actually smouldering. What is the best way to get a heap to run hot? I am considering adding the grass cuttings from home to the allotment heap to fill in all the gaps left by clumps of grass being throuwn in. I am also considering mixing in fresh stable manure to provide more nitrates etc. Anything else? The heap is currently inside a circle of green plastic square mesh (like netting but thicker) and about chest height. There will be couch in there, but not a lot I hope. Dock roots are being dried (hah!) in a seperate heap prior to burning. Cheers Dave R -- No plan survives contact with the enemy. [Not even bunny] Helmuth von Moltke the Elder (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
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Which weeds should NOT be composted?
"David WE Roberts" wrote
What is the best way to get a heap to run hot? I am considering adding the grass cuttings from home to the allotment heap to fill in all the gaps left by clumps of grass being thrown in. I am also considering mixing in fresh stable manure to provide more nitrates etc. Anything else? The heap is currently inside a circle of green plastic square mesh (like netting but thicker) and about chest height. There will be couch in there, but not a lot I hope. Dock roots are being dried (hah!) in a separate heap prior to burning. On our previous allotment we had a heap that was insulated with thick polystyrene sheets and that used to get so hot it was invariably ash in the centre. Composted quickly though even in winter. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On 26/04/2012 14:12, David WE Roberts wrote:
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... On 26/04/2012 12:24, Bob Hobden wrote: "Chris" wrote Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Of that list I do not compost Couch Grass (twitch) as I have seen it survive composting and ruin a heap by growing through it. Bindweed can survive so I don't compost that either. I just leave them to mature on the path for a couple of weeks before adding them to the compost heap and same for ground elder. I don't compost diseased alliums but apart from that everything else goes on. My heap does run fairly hot form time to time 70+C. Only once has it got so far as actually smouldering. What is the best way to get a heap to run hot? Make it big. Mine are about 2x3m and add lots of stuff at once. Don't crush it down and intersperse the odd layer tough pruned stuff in with the grass. Grass has a reputation for going slimy and horrible but I think it only does that if you crush all the air out of it. I am considering adding the grass cuttings from home to the allotment heap to fill in all the gaps left by clumps of grass being throuwn in. I am also considering mixing in fresh stable manure to provide more nitrates etc. Generally not really necessary unless it is free. There might be a slight advantage to starting a fresh heap with an accelerant like Garotta the very first time to make sure you have the right fungi. Anything else? The heap is currently inside a circle of green plastic square mesh (like netting but thicker) and about chest height. There will be couch in there, but not a lot I hope. Dock roots are being dried (hah!) in a seperate heap prior to burning. Old wooden palettes are about the right size for making a heap that stands a decent chance of getting hot. It only really works if you have a lot of green waste to dispose of on a regular basis. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
On Apr 26, 2:12*pm, "David WE Roberts" wrote:
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... On 26/04/2012 12:24, Bob Hobden wrote: "Chris" wrote Which weeds should NOT be composted? Thistles? Dandelions? Couch grass? Is there a list of what is OK? Of that list I do not compost Couch Grass (twitch) as I have seen it survive composting and ruin a heap by growing through it. Bindweed can survive so I don't compost that either. I just leave them to mature on the path for a couple of weeks before adding them to the compost heap and same for ground elder. I don't compost diseased alliums but apart from that everything else goes on. My heap does run fairly hot form time to time 70+C. Only once has it got so far as actually smouldering. What is the best way to get a heap to run hot? I am considering adding the grass cuttings from home to the allotment heap to fill in all the gaps left by clumps of grass being throuwn in. I am also considering mixing in fresh stable manure to provide more nitrates etc. Anything else? The heap is currently inside a circle of green plastic square mesh (like netting but thicker) and about chest height. There will be couch in there, but not a lot I hope. Dock roots are being dried (hah!) in a seperate heap prior to burning. To keep the heap hot it needs to be big and you need to keep excessive water out with a cover (like heavy rain). Even then the edges don't heat up. |
Which weeds should NOT be composted?
"Bob Hobden" wrote
On our previous allotment we had a heap that was insulated with thick polystyrene sheets and that used to get so hot it was invariably ash in the centre. Composted quickly though even in winter. Forgot to mention you had to watch out for the Slow Worms in the winter if emptying the bin. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
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