Effective ways to turn grass weeds into compost

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

YMC - 03 Jul 2008 17:37 GMT

Hi,

I've got a bit of the kikuyu grass
http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=E27
as well as other weeds in my lawn. The council planted it as the common
nature strip grass and some of it has gotten into my garden.

They grow very quickly - and are very resilient. I've been weeding them out-
and throwing them into the rubbish bins.

But can I put it into my compost bin- or will the grass roots survive and
grow again? How can I make sure that the weeds' roots, runners, and their
seeds rot - and don't grow again.

My old gardener was simply in favor of throwing them away - as the laws here
now prohibit open fires which meant he couldn't burn the old weeds.

Reply to this Message

Pat Kiewicz - 04 Jul 2008 11:52 GMT

YMC said:

>They grow very quickly - and are very resilient. I've been weeding them out-
>and throwing them into the rubbish bins.
>
>But can I put it into my compost bin- or will the grass roots survive and
>grow again? How can I make sure that the weeds' roots, runners, and their
>seeds rot - and don't grow again.

The easiest way to make sure the weed seeds rot in the compost bin is to
cut or pull the weeds before the seeds are anywhere near mature. And
then put the top of the plants in the compost immediately.

Roots/runners should be left out in the sun for several days until they
are quite dried up, then composted.

Signature

Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

After enlightenment, the laundry.

Reply to this Message

beecrofter - 04 Jul 2008 16:35 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> My old gardener was simply in favor of throwing them away - as the laws here
> now prohibit open fires which meant he couldn't burn the old weeds.

The best place to use weedy compost is in deep shade where the weeds
cannot thrive. Two compost piles, one clean for sun and one weedy for
shade solves most of the problem.

Reply to this Message

Bill - 04 Jul 2008 21:18 GMT

In article
<5d8aa959-6dec-4e33-9f7c-f00611f65b34@k13g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,

> > Hi,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> cannot thrive. Two compost piles, one clean for sun and one weedy for
> shade solves most of the problem.

I have three plies somewhat active. I¹d hazard a guess anything added
to planting areas are a few years old. The weeds may grow but the
competition weed out the weeds in my piles.

Delusional Bill whose Dad says add more lime.

Signature

Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

Reply to this Message

Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / July 2008

Effective ways to turn grass weeds into compost