Compost

[bluebell]

I have just turned the pile of weeds from my new 5 rods that was dug about 6 weeks ago and it would appear that I have had some success in creating compost.

However there were no worms in it which puzzled me and Im a bit worried about seeds and roots in it. Should I sieve it or leave it a bit longer so that there are no visible roots in any of it? Currently the bottom 4 inches appear to be clear of roots, then about 6 inches showing some roots and the rest now at the bottom of the new heap.

[charles]

 Six weeks is pretty rapid by domestic standards, your results sound good and it just needs time for more decomposition to occur. Sieving is rarely necessary unless you want compost for potting. Visible roots – are they dead or alive? If live, of what?

[bluebell]

The heaps were less than half the size when they were started and I needed the space. the roots were (I think) dandylion not sure if it was alive, bind weed definately alive, dock which looked fairly dead.

There appeared to be a lot of fungal activity and Im glad I turned the heap as the edges were generally just dry with bits of bind weed trying to establish. Middle was quite wet in places so hopefully it will go even better now.

So I guess my question is how do I know that it is ok to put on the beds when most is nice and brown and crumbly?

[charles]

 It sounds like a good turn and I would leave it another six or eight weeks, then when you spread it be sure to pull out any bits of bindweed root and anything else still alive. You could spread the compost before planting spring cabbage, or after planting garlic or broad beans, or just on bare soil ahead of winter.

[Author]

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