Denise: Ive steered clear of colorful impatiens for years because of white powdery mildew. The way the outdoor plant was treated before you bought it might have something to do with it bolting. Don't compost weeds that have gone to seed. Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree, I process mine through a goat before composting. We have: The plant has fleshy white roots that when disturbed go into panic mode and root. However, Im noticing white/grey watermark-like spotting on my peony leaves (no leaves are dropping and it still bloomed this year), and marigolds have gotten dried grey foliage at the bottom of each plant (also producing flowers). Next spring apply an organic fungicide like Serenade when they leaf out. You can compost almost any item but there are 13 things you cant compost. All rights reserved. The main plants rot down quite quickly, as long as they don't have flower heads - if they do they will continue to ripen long after the plant appears well dead, then suddenly a whole load of seeds starts floating around the place. The peonies are prone to gray mold or botrytis blight. I have not done anything that I havent done in years past. What is even better is that you can make your own. Never pull or dig it, that does make more of the weed. A lot. We provide help, support and advice for smallholders and aspiring smallholders. Or you can compost the bigger I even have a stray parsley plant in a pot of pathos inside that I have let be and it is five years old! I rarely dig up the soil. Avoid composting them if you know they were diseased. The compost has everything the plants need, and its fine to plant directly into the medium. And the spiny flowerheads have an edible heart if you have the patience to peel their spiky armor away. 2021 Everybody Gardens | All Rights Reserved. You'll notice some items missing from this list, such as meat, dairy, and fats. If you have one of the spinning bins or something like a compost barrel, it is going to be harder to keep the new and old compost separate. The best way to win the battle is called continual top cutting. The items here are safe for you Doug: Thats a great question, Pat. What affliction have they contracted? The weed needs top growth to feed the roots. Pulling them may leave a portion of root behind, which will re-sprout in time. Humans feces and diapers: Like blood, human feces poses a major health risk, and can contain diseases and parasites. Enter your email below to be added to our mailing list. Cut the foliage back at the end of the season and remove it from the garden. As relatives of the globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), thistles produce edible, if smaller, 'chokes'. Comments. -I've considered going out and picking up a juicer to squeeze the juice out of grass. Susan: We moved to a new house five years ago. Doug: Creeping thyme is hardy, but slow growing. Pulled the weed constantly. Yes, you can compost dandelions but a bit of care is needed. Doug: Parsley plants are technically biennial, meaning the first year they produce foliage and then the second they go to seed when growing outdoors. Yes. At this While you can technically compost all of these (especially if you have a Bokashi compost bin), we've left them off because extra care must be taken to compost these items safely. It will work, you just have to be vigilant. Want to keep up to date with all our latest news and information? There are enormous benefits to soil structure by adding important micronutrients and bacterial activity. You can compost reusable cotton liners but only if theyve been thoroughly washed. Thistles are bursting with good things for your compost but unfortunately their spikes are not so welcome. Well, I've got horned sheep, but they are definitely not interested. Most of what I do in the garden uses a technique called no till. These can be used in similar ways to the petioles, or you can stuff them, roast them, and braise them. Can you compost thistles? But rather than just limiting those answers to the person who asked, we thought it might be a good idea to share that wealth of knowledge with everybody. In your flower or vegetable garden, plant densely around the thistle. Composting has been one of the most life-changing sustainability practices weve adopted.. Maybe youre getting into apartment composting with one of the many convenient indoor compost bins now available for us urban decayers. You can add rice to the compost, but cook it first so it breaks down faster. However, Im noticing white/grey watermark-like spotting on my peony leaves (no leaves are dropping and it still bloomed this year), and marigolds have gotten dried grey foliage at the bottom of each plant (also producing flowers). 24. After trimming back the plants, apply the product on the exposed roots. Composting isnt just for food, silly!Youll be surprised at all the strange, random junk you can toss in the compost bucket. this might sound like a lot of work, but with the right methods, youll do it very effectively. The first is the Bull Thistle, which is also commonly known as the spear thistle. Cut the foliage back at the end of the season and remove it from the garden. Anything with blood can contain hard-to-kill pathogens which can be transferred to your compost. I would also get some organic weed killer thats vinegar based. Would you recommend this as aggressive ground cover or something else? Composting a weed The Importance of Destroying Seeds and Rhizomes. Composting Tomato Plants. In order for a compost pile to do its job, it needs to be properly layered, kept moist, and have a constant internal temperature of at least 135 degrees F. (57 C.).. Roberta: I have a large back grassy area that I was thinking of planting with white creeping thyme. This can take as long as 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on the volume of the original waste, balance of food waste to brown yard scraps, and amount of water in the compost. Doug: Canadian thistle is a challenge, thats for sure. I have not done anything that I havent done in years past. Weeds In A Compost Pile Additional Plants To Avoid In addition to keeping seed heads out, plants that reproduce from their roots should be avoided as well. Can I compost weeds? As your chosen plants mature, their shade ultimately weakens and kills the sun-loving baby thistle weeds. Do you know of any other methods we can try to get rid of this weed? And he doesnt mind offering gardening advice. Its a nice ground cover, but its not going to fill in a huge area quickly. While composting these invasive weeds will not harm your compost, it could help spread unwanted weeds to parts of your yard where you use your compost. Keep your poo in the loo and not on the lawn. Were so excited to have you here. Turning the heap adds air; air is necessary for composting to occur. Dead Houseplants. And if you have ever smelled rotting meat, you know what type of odor issues it can cause! Or maybe youre going old school with a simple compost pile or bin in the backyard. Canada thistle control Control can be accomplished mechanically by tilling every 3 weeks for an entire growing season. Dandelions with their roots attached should be avoided as they have a tendency to regrow.Ditto heads of dandelions that have gone to seed: being put into a resource-rich growing medium then spread it around your garden is basically the seeds biggest wish come true. Take a look at these and see if you like the way they look and if the lighting requirements work for your area: variegated pachysandra, sweet woodruff, ajuga and lamium. Getting Rid of the Biennial or Annual Thistles Try to spot thistle seedlings early as possible. You can get some revenge on the thistles you cut by leaving them on the lawn to be chopped up by the mower. What affliction have they contracted? The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2021. Serenade should help, but once the disease gets established, its harder to control. Ive steered clear of colorful impatiens for years because of white powdery mildew. Never pull or dig it, that does make more of the weed. Cut the weed at ground level versus pulling the weed out by the root. I thought compost always had to be mixed into the soil first before you could plant anything? Find out! They are fairly green and juicy, with no seed heads. Note: Due to issues surrounding residual clopyralid in compost, the ODA developed new restrictions for using the herbicide in turf areas. If you follow a no-dig regime the compost can be used as a mulch in late winter or early spring, this will help to conserve soil moisture and inhibit weed growth. Noxious weeds Invasive weeds like creeping charlie or Canada thistle can be composted, but these invasive weeds often come back from even small pieces of plant material. -Letting weeds decay in water would preserve the leachate, rather than allow it to drain through a compost heap or into the soil to do it's thing at a slow rate. Why do you think it bolted? Blossom end rot, bees, butterfly weeds and more, Mystery bugs, lavender plants and watermelons, Strawberry plants, cool-weather crops, pumpkins and more, Tomato issues, zucchini struggles, lilacs and more, Hosta seeds, garlic, Alternaria leaf blight and more, Moving a hydrangea, hibiscus and succulents, Lilies, Brussels sprouts and septoria leaf spot, Garlic harvest, cucumber beetles, spindly tomatoes and more, Bladdernut, fungus gnats, rose black spot and more, Poison ivy, black-eyed Susans and container mix, Cucumber beetles, hot pepper plants and planting potatoes, Zebra grass, pale vegetables and yellow nutsedge, See also, Grandma Bev Transforms Neighborhood With The Help Of Grounded Strategies. This does kill the leaves, but then it will grow back from the root. Dock leaves can be composted as can the root but, as with thistles any pieces of the tap root that survive the composting process will sprout new growth so the finished compost should be sieved to remove any remaining pieces of root. Canadian thistle can be a nightmare to eradicate from flowerbeds and gardens. Part of our yard had an overgrown patch of Canadian thistle. I just put a layer of compost on top and plant directly in the soil amendment when something needs to be planted. But there are rules to good composting. Along the same lines as fat, grease and oil, meats are a big no-no for composting. Is it hardy from season to season? I think the marigolds might have grey mold too, although Id have to see a picture to know for sure. Composting reduces the need to water your garden as often, and it can cut back on the amount of waste you send to the landfill by about 20%, according to experts at the New Castle County Cooperative Extension of the University of Delaware. You only need a compost bin and some of the materials that we will discuss below. If you have decided to kill it and you want to know how to get rid of thistles permanently, so this guide is written for you to help you with all the available methods. 74. So if you are planning to compost this plant you need to check that the seeds/bits are only added to the top of an already hot pile (above 40c). You are here Home The Accidental Smallholder Forum Growing Gardens Can you compost thistles? Can I add the to the compost heap or do I have to burn them? The roots can be gathered in earliest spring or late in the fall between the plants first and second year when they are full of stored food. Before you can get started with removing the thistle from your property, the first thing that you need to know is that there are two common types of thistles, and there are two distinct ways of attacking the weeds. JoAnne: Ive been gardening for 50 years and have never seen Italian flat leaf parsley plants bolt to seed. The main plants rot down quite quickly, as long as they don't have flower heads - if they do they will continue to ripen long after the plant appears well dead, then suddenly a whole load of seeds starts floating around the place. Hope that helps. A great example of this is Canadian thistle. DO NOT fork in or turn the contents of the HOTBIN as seeds will fall down to cooler base. The compost can also be used as an ingredient in home- made seed and potting compost. Doug: Canadian thistle is a challenge, thats for sure. Thistles are bursting with good things for your compost but unfortunately their spikes are not so welcome. Cut the plant to the ground with a string trimmer and continue the process weekly until the plant is exhausted. It happens with plants like that sometimes, just part of gardening. Preparing the stems is similar, but they are hollow. If the heap is too wet or becomes compacted, then the composting process is slower as less air is available. Compost is literally the best thing you can plant your vegetables and flowers in. (We read on the internet that pulling it makes it multiply faster) One thing to consider with most ground covers is that once its there, its probably going to be there forever. Next spring apply an organic fungicide like, Grandma Bev Transforms Neighborhood With The Help Of Grounded Strategies. Shop special Everybody Garden products today! The plant has fleshy white roots that when disturbed go into panic mode and root. Doug: The peonies are prone to gray mold or botrytis blight. There are tricks to making a healthy compost. If you just have compost piles, though, you can just start one pile and move onto a second pile when the first one has enough stuff in it. Usually I start from seed but was busy this spring and bought a four-pack of plants at a local nursery. If your houseplants died as a result of age or something uncomplicated, like a watering mistake, go ahead and compost them. (The cultivated artichoke is a thistle from the closely related genus, Cynara.) - The Accidental Smallholder, Quote from: colliewoman on October 12, 2012, 12:16:18 am. Posted on: August 20, 2018 | Written By: Doug Oster | Used vinegar on the weed. There are three ways to send in your questions: Submit your question on our Your Garden section of our site, (The questions may be lightly edited for grammar/clarity/etc.). If youre to take composting to the next level, heres a list of some less-common items that can also get tossed in your composting bin or tumbler. Composting is a great way to make your own organic fertilizer it allows you to decompose the waste material of your garden and food scraps of your home, which Any garden plant that spreads by runners, such as mint or raspberry canes, should also be kept out of a cool compost pile. Gardening editor Doug Oster gets asked a lot of questions. So, a lot of the roots were dug up, but now the thistle grows on top of the mulch. If you are looking to grow the following plants, you will need an ericaceous compost to supplement growth; Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Holly, Fern, Gardenia, Aster, Magnolia, Pachysandra, Lupine, Pieris, Viburnum, Bleeding Heart, Japanese Maple, Juniper, Blueberries, Raspberries and Cranberries there are plenty more so make sure you do your research on what type of compost It will have a higher percentage of vinegar than the food grade variety. Just like the grease and oil, they are a major attraction for pests. With a wet season like weve had, fungal issues have been a problem for sure. If it dried out, it would be prone to going to seed. I have just cut down a large number of thistles along my boundary fence. The indoor plant isnt forced to go to seed by heat or weather and must be happy where its growing. Personally, I have three that I rotate between. Ideally, place a lot of composting materials on the heap in one go, and turn it periodically (perhaps every month) to The part of the yard where we had the overgrowth, we had landscaped with a wall and mulch. In a cool compost pile, weeds to avoid include morning glory, buttercups, bermuda grass, oxalis, quackgrass, and crabgrass. We have tried several methods of trying to eradicate via natural/organic methods. out of control in your garden, it can be oh-so-tempting to throw Pat: I see you planting directly into fresh compost without mixing it into the soil. Thistles are very stubborn and hard to kill, and it might take you up to 3 growing seasons for you to completely get rid of them. These are the crunchy, immature bases, or capitulum, of the composite flower-head. Also if it was a second-year plant and it was hot and dry, it would bolt. Welcome to the composting club! At this time of year we also get a lot of sow thistles - Sonchus asper and Sonchus oleraceus - which are sappy and easy to pull up in well-cultivated soil and then compost. #5 Treated Lawn Clippings
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