Can I-should I compost bind weed?

[Graham K]

My plot is currently over run with bind weed which I am slowly clearing, I know about removing all the roots and not breaking them but is it safe to compost the leaves? It seems a shame to waste compost material but I don't want to turn up to find the compost bins covered in this evil weed.

Any advice welcome,

Thanks, Graham.

[bearded bloke]

Safest bet would be to leave out to dry,then put it on an Autumn bonfire & use the ash as fertiliser stay warm at the plot & no risk of regrowth ... double bubble

[Alison]

You can drown it too before use.

[zazen999]

We have a green cone where the bottom is dug into the ground and you never empty it - it heats up and the insides compost down and the worms take the stuff back into the soil.

We put all our perennial weeds in there and so far they seem to be rotting down with no evidence of staying alive or getting back out again.

[Kaiya]

I let couch dry out on the paths before composting it.

[Alison]

I let couch dry out on the paths before composting it.

I've got too much of it for that Not been many long enough dry periods this year either but the bleeding stuff keeps on growing. Does my head in, almost end up having nightmares about the stuff.....

[roitelet]

It's a long slow process getting rid of bind weed but it can be done. Dig out as much as you can one year (double dig), next year plant potatoes and remove any remaining bind weed. The following year there shouldn't be much left and I am afraid I then spot weed with Roundup, it's worked for me. The thing is not to try and clear too big an area at one time.

[Two_Sheds]

bind weed ... is it safe to compost the leaves?

I don't burn or bin any green material ~ I compost EVERYTHING !

You can drown it too before use.

That works, but you need to exclude light (use a water butt with a lid).

- bag it up in black sacks as you would leafmould (again, exclude light).
- leave it on a path in the sun so it goes brown & crispy, then add to your normal compost heap