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compost

• Message 1. 

  Posted by shaun_lincoln (U14939802) on Monday, 22nd August 2011

  hi fairly new to gardening got a lotment last september so been very busy getting that sort as it was a jungle.So made a compost bin at weekend and just wondering what to put in the compost bin and what not to.
  can i put weeds in or should i burn them many regards
  
  p.s sorry it might be a silly question but dont want any dieases or out

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Monday, 22nd August 2011

  I wouldn't put weeds in,particulary perennial weeds.
  
  Having said that burning them and putting in the resulting ash should be OK
  
  This link will give you a list of other things you can compost:
  
  

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Tuesday, 23rd August 2011

  One piece of advice, don't put a 'floor' in it, pile your green stuff straight on the ground this way the worms will find their way in and start 'doin' the biz' a lot easier. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Ginglygangly (U14874813) on Tuesday, 23rd August 2011

  Hi Shaun
  I put annual weeds on my compost heap - as long as they haven't set seed it 's fine. I regard them as green manure! Avoid putting on perennial weeds that might regrow - especially anything with a long tap root like dandelions, bindweed etc although if there are only a few you could put just the leaves on and burn the roots (but it sounds like you might have barrowloads). Nettle leaves are actually great for your compost heap but make sure you dont add the roots.
  I would also burn anything that has suffered from an obvious viral infection - anything with blight for example.
  Make sure you add in plenty of brown material if you have a lot of green matter to compost - add in some damp cardboard, egg boxes, newspaper, dead tree leaves - otherwise it might get a bit green and smelly.
  Warning: you may become slightly obsessed with your compost heap.
  GG

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Thursday, 25th August 2011

  I bought some worms from the wormy curly business or similar one year and I was amazed how they multiplied even burrowing well in to the ground.
  
  If you are conscientious about your own garden worms in putting them in your own heap every time you find one, then you will have no need for purchased worms, and you don't any way, unless you get really keen.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Thursday, 25th August 2011

  Garden worms are not the same as compost (tiger) worms.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Friday, 26th August 2011

  If you wet and fork over the soil before you add the stuff, you will be inviting loads of worms anyway.
  
  Good luck

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• Message 8

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  Posted by moonplanter (U14969795) on Saturday, 27th August 2011

  hi fairly new to gardening got a lotment last september so been very busy getting that sort as it was a jungle.So made a compost bin at weekend and just wondering what to put in the compost bin and what not to.
  can i put weeds in or should i burn them many regards
  
  p.s sorry it might be a silly question but dont want any dieases or out   Hi Shaun,
  
  It's not a silly question as composting is a complex subject. Firstly compost everything which comes from your garden apart from dieseased plant material and cooked food. Weeds, and even their seeds can also be composted if the heap is likely to reach a high enough temperature to kill the seeds off (70 degrees C I think). Most bins don't as they don't get enough air into them, but if you have the time to turn the heap once a week and it has a good balance of Green (nitrogen rich) matter and brown (carbon rich matter) then you could have a steaming heap which kills all the seeds. Another advantage of a 'hot' heap is the matter will break down much faster than a non aerobic heap.
  
  For a more detailed list of what to compost see here
  
  I hope this helps.
  Paul
  
  
  

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