[Library Girl]

Hello- not only am I new to this forum, this is the only forum I have ever joined and posted on ! (Should I insert a smiley face at this point?)
I would really appreciate some advice on composting-this may sound simple but I cannot find a suitable answer. So, here goes... I seem to have acquired an awful lot of weeds on my allotment so I have dug them up and dumped them under some plastic that I have over one section of my allotment (that is currently empty) am I able to dig the debris into the soil or should I cart it all away somewhere?
Thanks in advance-
LG

[joyfull]

hello and welcome to the forum, I have just moved your post over to this section and hopefully another allotmenteer will be ble to help you 

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

Insert smillies wherever you want 

Do you know what these weeds were?  There are two types: ones which grow back every year, and ones which grow and die in the same year.  The only ones which it's advisable to compost are the annual ones (ie. the latter type), provided that they have not flowered.

[paintedlady]

I sort out the weeds into 2 groups as already mentioned - the perennial weeds (dock, dandelion and even bindweed & couch grass) get put into old empty compost bags which are closed up so that the weeds get neither light or water, and left next to the compost bin.  After a year or so, the roots should be dead and can then go into the compost heap (worth checking they are dead before doing that  and if necessary, leave it a bit longer)

[potatogrower]

I would personally throw the lot away, i find it difficult to trust weeds in a place where its nutrient rich. for the roots to die i would think you need intense heat from the decaying matter to kill them off completely. Stick to veggie food like carrot or potato peels or any other peels, leftover fruit peels, grass, manure, shredded paper, left over plants, that rot well and over a year or more you will have proper compost ready to use but always pick from the bottom of the pile not the top.

good luck

[mumofstig]

put tops (but not if they are seedy)  in the compost and roots in the bin........then none can regrow

[bigben]

Someone told me to drown them in a water butt. I tried and then the rusty tank I was using sprung a leak part way down and I ended up with stuff just growing in it. I never realised that dock could be an aquatic plant. Others swear by this method  - perhaps bagging up stuff first then sinking it into the water might do a better job.

[aelf]

Everything goes into my compost heap and is rotted down for a good full year before I spread it. Yes, I know some weed seed and some root fragments will germinate but I'll be weeding and hoeing through the year anyway so... #shrug#  

and my plot is no more or less weedy than any other on the site:)

[noshed]

I have a bucket of water next to my compost bins. I put bindweed in it when I can disentangle it from everything else. Then I tip the stinky mess onto the heap a few months later.
All other surplus greenery I put on my heaps, with shredded paper from the office and all the office tea bags.
That rots down very well, especially If I put a few comfrey leaves in as well.
I'm just digging out a couple of heaps at the moment and spreading the lovely brown crumbly stuff about.

[savbo]

put tops (but not if they are seedy)  in the compost and roots in the bin........then none can regrow

good way though i remember someone posting they had deliberately tested whether Horsetail 'needles' will re-root - and they did

[Library Girl]

Evening.
Thank you all ever so much for the advice. I will inspect and sort at the weekend.   
Am off to read the asparagus thread now !
Thanks again

[mike1987]

put tops (but not if they are seedy)  in the compost and roots in the bin........then none can regrow

good way though i remember someone posting they had deliberately tested whether Horsetail 'needles' will re-root - and they did

and bindweed wil aswell i have it growing up my fence and i used to just hoe it off an the bottem untill i noticed that if it was left touching soil it was re rooting