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Old 16-05-2008, 09:36 AM
lainey lou's Avatar
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Default to compost or not to compost?

The paths between my beds at the lottie are grass and weeds. I know not to chuck the roots or seeds of perennial weeds in the compost but how's about the leaves in any mowings? Is it ok to compost them or should I just get rid?
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Old 16-05-2008, 10:44 AM
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compost what comes out of the mower,we have prunus trees in the home garden,the dark red leaves,and it's fine in the compost,because the leaves will help to stop the grass from clogging together,you could always add some torn up news paper with it,then give it a drink to wet the paper,

Last edited by lottie dolly; 16-05-2008 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 17-05-2008, 09:20 PM
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As Lottie dolly says, it's best to have a mixture of brown and green matter in the heap to stop it either becoming too dry or too wet!
Everyone makes such a song and dance about composting whilst if you chuck all organic matter, weeds and all, into a heap in the corner, eventually you will get useable compost! The only thing to avoid are cooked meats which will attract vermin!
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Old 18-05-2008, 07:38 PM
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Leaves and grass clippings are fine (the only thing I would avoid like the plague is bindweed as this roots itself everywhere). You'd never think it was related to Morning Glory which is notoriously hard to germinate and get growing.
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Old 19-05-2008, 09:23 AM
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What I was asking was is it ok to compost the leaves of perennial weeds such as dock that may be present in the grass mowings?
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Old 19-05-2008, 02:38 PM
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Hmm, I've put in some bindweed today & yester day . . should I take it out? Or will it be ok if i chop it up?
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Old 20-05-2008, 05:56 PM
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If the weeds haven't set seeds yet, I don't think there is any problem for you to use in the compost... if you want you can also let them dry out completely before. I did that with some binweed and it does look like they are really dead!! (no new growth whatsoever)
I actually turn weeds straight into the soil when they are still young, I'm always after a bit more of organic matter !
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Old 20-05-2008, 05:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by armadillo View Post
Hmm, I've put in some bindweed today & yester day . . should I take it out? Or will it be ok if i chop it up?
NEVER CHOP BINWEED
every little piece makes a new plant! dried them out under the sun and make sure they are really, really dried dead
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Old 29-06-2008, 10:29 PM
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Burn the bindweed and put the ashes on the compost heap. Or put it in the garden rubbish collection sack on bin day. It's evil!!
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