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reusing old compost

y_vonnie_2007y_vonnie_2007 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
We have inherited a lot of garden pots that have turned to weeds.  We've emptied a lot out, pulled out as many roots as we can.  I'd like to reuse this compost in the bottom of large pots that I would then top up with new general purpose compost.  I'm thinking of only doing this with annual plants as....and this is the question...how do i stop the weeds coming back?  I assume there will be weed seeds in this compost.  I read if you put it in a black plastic sack and leave in the sun it will kill the weeds?  But does that include seeds?  I've through of boiling a kettle and pouring that onto it, but it would take a lot of kettles....

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited June 2020
    weed seeds night light to germinate, if you do as your planning and having a thick layer of new compost on top,  it wont happen. 
    Devon.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I agree with @Hostafan1
    You could mix a bit of fish, blood and bone with the old stuff to provide a bit of nutrition for when the roots grow through the new compost you are putting on top.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • y_vonnie_2007y_vonnie_2007 Posts: 8
    thank you for your answers, I am such a novice that it's always comforting if someone confirms something i've read but not tried.  Now we just need the sun back in Scotland...haha.  It's been beautiful and sunny but the last two days have been soggy!  I don't have fish, blood and bone BobTheGardener, but I do have some general purpose liquid garden feed so I'm going to pour some of that on the old stuff.
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