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Composting weeds

tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
in Fruit & veg
Hi

Ive been deweeding. Is it ok to put these in my compost bin? They havnt gone to seed yet, (although some are in flower). So is it ok?

Thanks

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    I add annual weeds to my compost and the tops of perennials as in some cases their roots can regrow. In both cases I do not add seed heads.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It depends on the weed. Do you know what you've got?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    Yes - I have buttercups, Quackgrass and Crabgrass, bindweed, ground elder, milkweed.

    Theres also another weed that is really being a nuisance but I cant find any images on Google to identify it.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    edited June 2022
    Honestly I wouldn't take any chances with bindweed or ground elder.  Those kinds of weeks I don't over-think it - straight into the brown council bin!  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree @borgadr. I have neither of those here, but there would be no chance of those going in a compost bin if I did.  :)
    I don't put roots of pernicious perennial weeds in, and no seed heads. That includes little bits of grass that have invaded any areas. I often just leave any troublesome weeds to dry out somewhere first, to make sure they're done. Or I put them in the council collection. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    My lawn is full of buttercups and other grass weeds. When it gets mowed those weeds are in with the grass clippings into the compost heap so I guess weeds will end up in there.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I put everything in the compost including couchgrass, dandilions etc.
    my heaps do not heat up enough to kill everything but when they are full I cover them so they are dark and everything dies within a few months.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    tuffnelljohn said:
    Hi

    Ive been deweeding. Is it ok to put these in my compost bin? They havnt gone to seed yet, (although some are in flower). So is it ok?

    Thanks

    The compost heap/bin is the best place for them.  The only things I leave out are bindweed roots and cooch grass roots, dandelion roots are somewhat iffy, nettle roots ok.  Weed seeds you will never be able to eliminate, no matter how hard you try, and they will germinate later unless you are able to make hot compost, which most of us are not.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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