Every garden owner knows it: Wild plants always germinate and grow faster than plants that are cultivated in a targeted manner. Regular weeding is required to ensure that the weeds do not compete with the cultivated plants. But what to do with the weeds? If you follow a few rules, you can compost it with confidence.

Weeds will also rot easily on a healthy compost heap

In this article you will learn:

  • How they prepare the weeds,
  • At which point weeds reliably rot,
  • Why you should turn the compost after three weeks.

The right preparation

Before adding herbs to the compost, let them dry in the sun for a few days. As a result, the roots die off and no new shoots form. A large proportion of the seeds also dry up and can no longer germinate.

Can seed-bearing weeds be put in the compost?

If the compost has been built up correctly, seeds that are still viable will reliably decompose. However, preferably place seed-bearing weeds in the middle of the compost heap. Here the greatest heat of 55 degrees and more is generated, which surely destroys the germination power.

What to do if the weed seeds sprout anyway?

Because of the small volume, however, many garden composts do not heat up that much and cool down again quickly. Due to the decomposition of the green waste, the pH value drops at the same time and the seeds find optimal germination conditions.

However, the small plants are still very sensitive. If you turn the compost now, they will be destroyed forever. In addition, during the rotting process, the interaction between bacteria and fungi produces antibiotic substances that inhibit the seeds from opening.

If you have to compost a lot of weeds, it is therefore advisable to convert the compost after about three weeks. In this way, those weed seeds and roots that were previously in the cooler peripheral areas are also killed.

tips

Always add some homemade compost to a new compost heap. This brings good bacteria into the new compost and acts like the starter in sourdough.

Category:

Herbs