Note: Due to issues surrounding residual clopyralid in compost, the ODA developed new restrictions for using the herbicide in turf areas. Next spring apply an organic fungicide like Serenade when they leaf out. Usually I start from seed but was busy this spring and bought a four-pack of plants at a local nursery. Composting isn’t just for food, silly!You’ll be surprised at all the strange, random junk you can toss in the compost bucket. Composting has been one of the most life-changing sustainability practices we’ve adopted.. Maybe you’re getting into apartment composting with one of the many convenient indoor compost bins now available for us urban decayers. The peonies are prone to gray mold or botrytis blight. Pat: I see you planting directly into fresh compost without mixing it into the soil. I think the marigolds might have grey mold too, although I’d have to see a picture to know for sure. Cut the foliage back at the end of the season and remove it from the garden. 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. If your houseplants died as a result of age or something uncomplicated, like a watering mistake, go ahead and compost them. As relatives of the globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), thistles produce edible, if smaller, 'chokes'. 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 part of the yard where we had the overgrowth, we had landscaped with a wall and mulch. Would you recommend this as aggressive ground cover or something else? I’ve steered clear of colorful impatiens for years because of white powdery mildew. Can you compost thistles? 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. - The Accidental Smallholder, Quote from: colliewoman on October 12, 2012, 12:16:18 am. 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. Doug: That’s a great question, Pat. We’re so excited to have you here. If it dried out, it would be prone to going to seed. The plant has fleshy white roots that when disturbed go into panic mode and root. Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree, I process mine through a goat before composting. I have just cut down a large number of thistles along my boundary fence. This does kill the leaves, but then it will grow back from the root. Well, I've got horned sheep, but they are definitely not interested. It will have a higher percentage of vinegar than the food grade variety. Susan: We moved to a new house five years ago. If you’re to take composting to the next level, here’s a list of some less-common items that can also get tossed in your composting bin or tumbler. Is it hardy from season to season? Hope that helps. 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 … You only need a compost bin and some of the materials that we will discuss below. The roots can be gathered in earliest spring or late in the fall between the plant’s first and second year when they are full of stored food. Doug: Canadian thistle is a challenge, that’s for sure. 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.).. Yes, you can compost dandelions – but a bit of care is needed. Ideally, place a lot of composting materials on the heap in one go, and turn it periodically (perhaps every month) to … Or you can compost the bigger … Composting Tomato Plants. Never pull or dig it, that does make more of the weed. -I've considered going out and picking up a juicer to squeeze the juice out of grass. 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 40°c). You'll notice some items missing from this list, such as meat, dairy, and fats. Part of our yard had an overgrown patch of Canadian thistle. There are enormous benefits to soil structure by adding important micronutrients and bacterial activity. Keep your poo in the loo and not on the lawn. What affliction have they contracted? • Pulled the weed constantly. Compost is literally the best thing you can plant your vegetables and flowers in. Getting Rid of the Biennial or Annual Thistles Try to spot thistle seedlings early as possible. What affliction have they contracted? I thought compost always had to be mixed into the soil first before you could plant anything? 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. 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.). 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. Cut the plant to the ground with a string trimmer and continue the process weekly until the plant is exhausted. Along the same lines as fat, grease and oil, meats are a big no-no for composting. Most of what I do in the garden uses a technique called no till. Pulling them may leave a portion of root behind, which will re-sprout in time. Denise: I’ve steered clear of colorful impatiens for years because of white powdery mildew. We have: The items here are safe for you … Posted on: August 20, 2018 | Written By: Doug Oster | Turning the heap adds air; air is necessary for composting to occur. Composting a weed – The Importance of Destroying Seeds and Rhizomes. It will work, you just have to be vigilant. Want to keep up to date with all our latest news and information? You can compost reusable cotton liners but only if they’ve been thoroughly washed. Doug: Parsley plants are technically biennial, meaning the first year they produce foliage and then the second they go to seed when growing outdoors. A lot. The compost has everything the plants need, and it’s fine to plant directly into the medium. Comments. These can be used in similar ways to the petioles, or you can stuff them, roast them, and braise them. Can I compost weeds? Canadian thistle can be a nightmare to eradicate from flowerbeds and gardens. At this … As your chosen plants mature, their shade ultimately weakens and kills the sun-loving baby thistle weeds. 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. Or maybe you’re going old school with a simple compost pile or bin in the backyard. All rights reserved. © 2021 Everybody Gardens | All Rights Reserved. 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 … Next spring apply an organic fungicide like, ‘Grandma Bev’ Transforms Neighborhood With The Help Of Grounded Strategies. Humans feces and diapers: Like blood, human feces poses a major health risk, and can contain diseases and parasites. • Cut the weed at ground level versus pulling the weed out by the root. (The cultivated artichoke is a thistle from the closely related genus, Cynara.) Preparing the stems is similar, but they are hollow. I even have a stray parsley plant in a pot of pathos inside that I have let be and it is five years old! We provide help, support and advice for smallholders and aspiring smallholders. What is even better is that you can make your own. And if you have ever smelled rotting meat, you know what type of odor issues it can cause! #5 Treated Lawn Clippings 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. I have not done anything that I haven’t done in years past. -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. But there are rules to good composting. You can add rice to the compost, but cook it first so it breaks down faster. DO NOT fork in or turn the contents of the HOTBIN as seeds will fall down to cooler base. 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. Can I add the to the compost heap or do I have to burn them? Shop special Everybody Garden products today! So, a lot of the roots were dug up, but now the thistle grows on top of the mulch. The plant has fleshy white roots that when disturbed go into panic mode and root. … Yes. It happens with plants like that sometimes, just part of gardening. I just put a layer of compost on top and plant directly in the soil amendment when something needs to be planted. One thing to consider with most ground covers is that once it’s there, it’s probably going to be there forever. I would also get some organic weed killer that’s vinegar based. The best way to win the battle is called continual top cutting. JoAnne: I’ve been gardening for 50 years and have never seen Italian flat leaf parsley plants bolt to seed. I rarely dig up the soil. The first is the Bull Thistle, which is also commonly known as the spear thistle. Avoid composting them if you know they were diseased. However, I’m 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). 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. 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 are here » Home » The Accidental Smallholder Forum » Growing » Gardens » Can you compost thistles? There are tricks to making a healthy compost. The way the outdoor plant was treated before you bought it might have something to do with it bolting. Doug: The peonies are prone to gray mold or botrytis blight. Also if it was a second-year plant and it was hot and dry, it would bolt. Thistles are bursting with good things for your compost but unfortunately their spikes are not so welcome. Don't compost weeds that have gone to seed. And he doesn’t mind offering gardening advice. 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. © The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2021. If the heap is too wet or becomes compacted, then the composting process is slower as less air is available. In a cool compost pile, weeds to avoid include morning glory, buttercups, bermuda grass, oxalis, quackgrass, and crabgrass. 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