Re: Compost and weeds
- Subject: Re: Compost and weeds
- From: M* W*
- Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:58:25 -0500
I have one of those tumbler composters. Have not had trouble with odors
as long as I mix dead leaves with the fresh weeds, and it's not too heavy
to turn because it has a gear on it. If you are the diligent type and are
willing to shred everything and to turn it every day, it does do what it
says it will. I do wish that it had mixing fins in it however, like a
clothes dryer does, because I think it would mix more thoroughly that
way.
However. I've found that I can make compost as fast with less work by
piling alternately dead things and fresh green stuff in a big black
plastic garbage can and water well. Also I put in some finished compost
to get the heating started. I stick a pitchfork in every once in a while
to mix things up and remove when it's done.
I really don't notice any problem with weed seeds from this as this is
hot composting. And since I don't put it back on the garden until all is
black and rotted, then even my own current weed scourges, zoysia grass
and crown vetch, don't come back from it and have never spread to
uninfested beds. This is just my own experience but I am not afraid to
put thoroughly composted weeds back on my beds. Even use it as mulch to
suppress other weeds.
It's a lot of work; perhaps you could just hot compost your problem weeds
and let the other things slow rot?
Marya
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