[xpers]

I have a new plot which is full of Docks and Thistles.  I have been carefully digging them up root and all and putting them in black bin bags (a technique I read in a book) to rot down and stew in the sun for a few months before putting on the compost heap.

The problem is every plot holder that has come over to say hello thinks I am mad for considering putting these weeds on the heap.  Everyone without exception says they taken them to the local green recycling or bin them.

What are the thoughts on this as I am now confused....

[scabs]

It's the potatoes all over again! 

My take on it is that you can put annuals in as long as they're not in seed but not perennials.

Interestingly though, one Committee member said to me "just throw it all in, leave it long enough and it will all rot down well enough." When I said there was bindweed and so on, he shrugged and said not to worry, leave it long enough and the whole lot would rot down just fine...

I'm sure there'll be plenty disagree with that, and I'm not nearly experienced enough to comment, but I have set up a second bin and am going to try a little experiment...

[poppies]

Hi I put the perennial weeds in a seperate bin and add a bit of chicken waste every now and then, every thing else goes in the other bins

some people leave the perennials  to dry out and then add them , but I have so much trouble with docks and thistles I keep them well away

[aelf]

I put it all in and the worms eat the lot! Mind you, mine compost is in 1 ton sand sacks with black plastic covers and needs watering every week to keep the worms happy but they do a great job!

[xpers]

Thinking about it I may well start another smaller heap just for the initial pile of weeds on my plot that I'll leave for for a year/18 months to rot down.

[mumofstig]

N if those same weeds start growing in the heap.......you'll know it don't work

[maxie]

I always compost my weeds,in the council tip composting skip 
Seriously weve got a very weedy allotment site so all my weeds go to the tip.

[MoreWhisky]

I compost all my weeds and every fortnight or so get a good layer of grass cuttings to go over top the heat this causes is must kill evrything underneath.

[Terrier]

Either cook them in black plastic bags or drown them for a few weeks (and use the liquid as plant feed) then add to the compost heap. Even if they do try to regrow, it's easy enough to pull them out when you empty the compost bin. Anything that looks as though it has seeds on it goes to the municiple tip.