Composting weeds?

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Rexmundi

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Composting weeds?
« on: April 25, 2015, 18:08 »
I have a huge pile of weeds. Can anyone please advise if they can be composted? I have three 'dalek' style compost bins.

I'm trying to dry them out in a big pile on a pallet just now but not sure whether I can compost them or do they need to go to the tip?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Scotland, 95% pure Scottish since 08/05/2015

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Kleftiwallah

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2015, 18:44 »
Compost every time.  They may do better intermixed with a few layers of ripped up cardboard and paper to keep the moisture content down and assist breaking down.

Cheers,  Tony.
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Yorkie

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2015, 19:46 »
The standard advice is not to compost perennial weeds or seeding annual weeds.

Certainly my compost heap doesn't get hot enough to kill off things like couch grass or bindweed.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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Baldy

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2015, 21:09 »
I try to compost most everything - but saying that there are things like docks that go into a barrel of water to rot down into a weed tea, which is something like a nettle tea but maybe not so talked about... The stuff left at the bottom of the barrel after 6 months goes on to the compost. (You have to put up with a considerable smell)
 Creeping buttercup and couch grass will get dried out and or burnt for ash.

If you can't do the drowning or the burning then its probably sensible to send them to the tip.

Pip pip,
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Rexmundi

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2015, 21:21 »
Thanks for the responses.

Think I'll put them in my incinerator  and compost the ashes.

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brokenglass

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2015, 10:48 »
Rexmundi where is your Allotment?      I am in Livingston
Cheers
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Rexmundi

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2015, 17:29 »
Brokenglass, I am not on an allotment, I have quite a large, south facing back garden which has allowed me to create 4 raised beds at 1.7 x 3m.

Where is the allotment in Livingston?

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brokenglass

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2015, 10:27 »
Ok thought there might be an Allotment Site I didn't know.      There are two Sites in Livingston one up at Kirkton and the other on Hardie Road, Deans, which is where I am.


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Headgardener22

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2015, 17:22 »
I compost everything (including perennial weeds) then when I'm digging it out to put on the garden/allotment, I sort through it and take out anything that looks pernicious (bindweed, couch grass) and put them into a dalek with the lid firmly closed to dry out and darken them.

I know you shouldn't compost perennials but its too much trouble at the busy time of weeding to sort them out, better at the quieter time in late winter when I'm digging out and spreading the compost.

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LotuSeed

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Re: Composting weeds?
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2015, 17:45 »
For me whether I conpost them or not depends on the type of weed. Goose grass, chickweed and dandelions can go in the pile. If they regrow there it's not that big a deal. Things like bamboo, pokeweed, winter creeper, Virginia creeper, English ivy and air potato all go in the garbage. The latter group consists of plants that are invasive and a pain to get rid of and I don't want them sitting on a highly nutritious pile from which they can feed and continue to grow.
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