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Posted: Apr/05/2008 7:32 PM PST
Last fall when I cleaned out some of my flower and vegetable beds, I put everything that I thought would decompose in the compost pile, including a good amount of weeds. It seems logical that there must have been weed seeds in there too. I am new to composting and was eager to start a pile that I could use this spring. Leaves and grass clippings were also added. The pile sat all winter, frozen and covered with snow. I just started adding kitchen scraps to the pile a couple of weeks ago now that it is finally starting to warm up. Since last fall, I've read that weeds should not be put in a compost pile. Did I make a mistake by adding the weeds to the pile? Should I start over with making a new compost pile? I appreciate your help. |
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Posted: Apr/05/2008 10:10 PM PST
Well, I know my pile has weeds in it. My lawn is far from green pristine, and I put everything on the pile. along with sawdust, soil, and occasional wood ash. I dont think I would start another pile....and if any nasty weed shows up in my garden, its gonna get terminated.  (I do try to yank em before they get to the seeding stage, but it does get away from me on occasion)
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Posted: Apr/06/2008 5:58 AM PST
I'm not sure weeds in the compost pile would theoretically hurt anything. Everything gets broken down into their basic elements and there is nothing special about the carbon in weeds. |
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Posted: Apr/06/2008 1:02 PM PST
One problem could be if there were seeds from the different weeds you placed there. If not they will just decompose like every other plant. We are struggling with a weed called rhubarb here and it spreads with small threadlike roots. That would not be so good either. But I think you won't have a problem when you pull up a weed that is not seeding. Linda B |
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Posted: Apr/08/2008 5:32 PM PST
Hi Chase, Don't fret! Everything is going to be just fine. The only reason why you hear about not putting weeds into the compost pile is because you might spread weeds in the form of seeds or root pieces when you spread the compost. In my humble opinion, the risk of this is greatly exaggerated. I have been putting EVERYTHING into my piles since I started and my yard is still not covered in chickweed, purselane, carpetweed or crabgrass. Mind you, I do make a VERY small effort to pull weeds in the garden when they're still small and before they've gone to seed. But that's only because it's easier to pull a sprout than a full grown dandelion with an 18inch taproot. But if I happened to get a few mature weeds, too, it's not the end of the world. And it certainly doesn't warrant discarding the whole pile and starting over. Just move forward, armed with the knowledge that a weed without seed is just another green plant for the compost pile. If you're still uncomfortable, then just add a bunch of manure to the pile when you make it and it will heat up like nobody's business, killing any weed seeds or root cuttings that might be lurking. Good luck! |
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Posted: Apr/09/2008 7:56 PM PST
Thank you everyone for your input and advice. I feel so much better now, knowing I didn't really make a mistake. I can't wait until I get some really good compost! Thanks again. |
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Posted: Apr/30/2008 8:47 AM PST
starting a new pile depends on how you feel about weeds. if you are determined to erradicate them then I'd start a second pile and keep it weed free. if you do that I'd black tarp over the 1st pile and eventually the sunlight's heat withthat black tarp will kill the weed seeds. if you are composting to get rid of the stuff, then who cares if there's weeds. if you're composting to add nuetrients to your veggie garden, then you may or may not like planting weeds with your compost. but nuetritionally weeds pose no problem. what does pose a problem is if you add meats and cheeses to the compost since that attracts vermin and animals. |
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Posted: May/21/2008 1:54 AM PST
I try to put the tops of weeds that do not have flowers on them, but now I have stopped as I have three huge compost containers two made of wood open air and one big 300liter container, that one is my prize and posession, the other two well they are the stinkers hahahahah. I had to nearly break off my husband's arm for putting in black berry and IVY roots oh he said, it will compost, like when 2020 . What I also have is a huge pile of debris, branches, uprooted weeds, etc etc, I have a compost excellerator and I intend to put it in that pile and see what happens, it claims to compost in little under a month. I wonder if the weed seeds and roots will die off? My compost in the plastic container comprises of good plants like geranium flower tips, food peelings, coffee filters, toilet paper rolls, egg box containers, rotted vegetables I didnt get to eat lol, hair, yeah HAIR composts quite well herb clippings, egg shells broken up, lawn grass, by products from old planted vegetables etc and URINE yeah, we put urine it in regularly 
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Posted: Jul/26/2009 2:54 PM PST
Rhubarb is actually a very desired plant in many parts of the country. They make a pie out of it. It's like red celery. Personally I can't stand the pie but I wasn't raised on it. Its like a pile of red celery and a 5# bag of sugar. Its so sickeningly sweet that no one who wasn't raised on it can tolerate it. I swear it's so amazingly popular that it's beyond comprehension. I was house hoping with my parents one time visiting out of state and every house offered me rhubarb pie. It's like an insult or something if you don't eat a piece and people are judged by the calibre of pies they make. MY grandmother would take a machete out to the side of the house and whack off a bunch to cook up for evening veggies. A good rhubarb patch is a enviable thing. Yes, it is a weed. It's one of those weeds like tomatoes or potatoes however. Someone you know will be happy to take your rhubarb off your hands, so long as it looks good. Seriously  - giant red celery.
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Posted: Jul/28/2009 9:12 AM PST
Solonia, I doubt yardgranny was refering to rhubarb, but a weed that is similar and possibly in the same botanical family (sorrel) as rhubarb. I grow rhubarb, and rhubarb pie is one of my favorites! |
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