I have loads of compost it is lovely stuff ,soft,moist and wormy but I know it's full of weed seeds. What if I spread it now and hoped they terminated before the frost which would kill them. Is this a good plan?
Any that don't die over winter can be hoed in a few minutes. Just spread the lovely stuff on the top and let the worms dig it in for you. It'll stop the soil compacting in heavy winter rain too. When weeds germinate next spring, it's a sign you can start sowing and planting. A quick hoe and you're ready to go! And Dave's right- your plants will love you for it.
Unfortunately, a warm compost bin is perfect for weed seeds to germinate. Like Logan, I never put anything in that's started seeding, they go in the brown bin for collection. I often get tomatoes growing though!
As Dave says, hoe off any that pop up in spring. It will be so beneficial to your other plants, so it's a small price to pay.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It's not in a bin. It's a big heap. Bottom layers are a couple of years old. The weeds are a reward for my laziness. I just chuck everything on it . We are in the process of removing the lower layers to a usable heap and starting again with the upper layers.
Same problem here B3. I now try not to put seed heads of 'easy germinators' in my compost (digitalis, aquilegia, tomatoes, dandelions etc). I just cut the seed heads off into the council bin & compost the rest of the plant.
That said I still seem to make quite weedy compost but I either dig mine in or just accept I will have to hoe / hand weed it.
Love home made compost
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Posts
To be honest the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Dig it in or spread it. You can hoe off the weeds and your plants will love you.
Been doing that Dave but was hoping for a shortcut
Ps I meant germinated but terminated would be good too.
If you use the council bin for compost,prop open the lid with a stick so ladybirds and other insects can escape.
Any that don't die over winter can be hoed in a few minutes. Just spread the lovely stuff on the top and let the worms dig it in for you. It'll stop the soil compacting in heavy winter rain too. When weeds germinate next spring, it's a sign you can start sowing and planting. A quick hoe and you're ready to go! And Dave's right- your plants will love you for it.
Unfortunately, a warm compost bin is perfect for weed seeds to germinate. Like Logan, I never put anything in that's started seeding, they go in the brown bin for collection. I often get tomatoes growing though!
As Dave says, hoe off any that pop up in spring. It will be so beneficial to your other plants, so it's a small price to pay.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you've got weed seeds geminating in the compost bin just turn it. They die off if you exclude light.
It's not in a bin. It's a big heap. Bottom layers are a couple of years old. The weeds are a reward for my laziness. I just chuck everything on it . We are in the process of removing the lower layers to a usable heap and starting again with the upper layers.
Same problem here B3. I now try not to put seed heads of 'easy germinators' in my compost (digitalis, aquilegia, tomatoes, dandelions etc). I just cut the seed heads off into the council bin & compost the rest of the plant.
That said I still seem to make quite weedy compost but I either dig mine in or just accept I will have to hoe / hand weed it.
Love home made compost