Fia
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compost questionI know you shouldn't compost some weeds, and after hours of gently teasing them out of the soil there's no way I'm going to introduce ground elder roots to my compost bin.
But what about couch grass? Dandelions? I removed 6 rubble sacks of the stuff digging my new tattie patch. They are awful heavy, we don't have garden refuse collection... what do I do?
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wildgarlic
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dandelions - roast the root and make some coffee?
If your compost heap is good and hot it may be possible to compost the dandies.
According to my Composting for All book - If you've got space you could cover up the couch grass with black/lightproof plastic and leave for 2 years (or put into lightproof bags)
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Smooth Hound
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best keep the couch grass away, stick it in bags and chuck them on the bonfire whan you have one.
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Diana
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Like Smooth, I'd bag up anything suspicious and leave it somewhere sunny for a year before doing anything to it - bonfire doesn't kill all weeds (there's dock and nettle growing where we have ours).
Alternatively, make a weed tea. Deep rooted weeds gather a lot of nutrients from lower levels of soil, we all know the benefits of nettles etc too. Chuck them all in a bucket or bin and cover with water. Cover the bucket and leave for about 2-6 weeks. Dilute to the colour of week tea and use as a plant feed (works more like a weed killer if not diluted) Be prepared to wear a peg on your nose when you use it.
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JamesB
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i would of thought if the bonfire was hot enough it would kill anything. after the bonfire has cooled down then they is nothing to stop seeds blowing in and recolonising the earth though.
I do like the idea of eating the weeds as an idea though! I not sure how edible docks are (we have thousands if anyone is wanting to try some!)
James
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Fia
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Thank you very much, folks
I opened the bottom of my compost bin for the first time yesterday and was well chuffed to see the magic of waste turning into lovely compost, which I dug into my new tattie patch.
I don't have space for a fire, so will try the bag up for 2 years method.
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kimmie
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dandylions are a great plant (only a weed if in wrong place aparently )....the flowers and leaves are good in salads...the flower heads make a great wine as well, and you can roast the root like WG said
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