Which weeds should NOT be composted?
Thistles?
Dandelions?
Couch grass?
Is there a list of what is OK?
--
Chris

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

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

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.

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.

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.

"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

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

"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

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

In article ,
says...

What is the best way to get a heap to run hot?

Well, warmth from an external source makes anything decompose faster; so
ideally, site compost heaps in sun not shade, shelter from cold wind,
and cover it with something black.

I have 2 sorts, black plastic daleks, and a row of cubic adjacent heaps
each with 4 walls made from pallets The pallets were disassembled then
reassembled with narrower gaps between the planks, and the sun-facing
sides painted black. The roofs are wooden frames with black plastic
stapled on.

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?

More nitrogen; pee on it. Plenty of green material like grasscuttings,
nettles, comfrey, shreddings. Chicken or pigeon manure get very hot.

The more material you feed a compost heap the hotter it gets; if I don't
have enough material from my own kitchen and garden I scavenge it from
elsewhere; other peoples grass cuttings, wool/muck sweepings from the farm
shearing shed floor, dead leaves or weeds harvested from local land (
bracken, nettles, rosebay, thistles). Shredded paper, seaweed.

Janet.

"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

"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

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

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.

In article , Bob Hobden
writes
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.


Beechgrove last night warned that you shouldn't put Japanese Knotweed in
the green bin as it's illegal though this might just apply to Scotland.
You have only one recourse, kill it, let it dry and burn it.
--
Janet Tweedy