Things not to compost?

Like marestails obviously but I have a big chunk of wild garlic bulbs in one corner. I like them, Michele doesn't as she, quite rightly, says they spread like hot butter on toast. I am a little concerned that if I pull the unwanted ones up and compost them i might be helping them to spread via seed or bulb. Would they remain viable in the compost?

 

Hmmm. Wild garlic is tough and personally, I wouldn't risk it in my compost bin. The heat generated by composting is pretty variable throughout the stack and you may not get much heat at all, depending on the time of year and how much you add at a time.

To look at it another way, binning the wild garlic or taking it to the local tip as green waste invoves no risk at all to your garden, whereas composting it yourself does.

I produced the best compost ever last year with a new style bin but I've still got what looks like courgettes coming up all over my borders!!

 

Yes obviously anything line bellbine or ivy should never be put into compost and I wouldn't risk the garlic either. It always amazes me what can survive through composting so it does require thought before putting anything in that is likely to propogate.

 

According to the late Arthur Billett, never put ant plant that has gone to seed or and diseased material on the compost heap.

When he did trials, the heaps never got hot enough to kill off seeds or diseases!

I follow his advice, and am not over run with weed seedling where I have spread my home made compost!

Cherrio

 

dont compost it, the tops will compost but burn or bin the bulbs.

 

Agree with you Makka(good old arthur billet) lots of seeds will not compost down it's a good way of spreading your weeds if it's not done properly.

 

Thanks for the advice folks