New Allotment, Old Compost heap

[Charlie R]

I am lucky enough to have taken on a 1/2 plot which has a full compost heap made of pallets, but  the contents look to me to be riddled with couch grass. Would anyone have suggestions as to what I should do with the contents? or would it be best to get rid of them and start from new?

[Charlie R]

[katynewbie]

;D

I have the same problem...but lets look on it as an opportunity!! I plan to shift it all into a new bin next to it and pull out all the couch as I go. It looks really good stuff, so figure that it will be ok once i have removed rhizomes and added lots more goodies and left it for a bit longer. The process of turning it should help with heat and kill off any lurking nasties!

Hope this helps

;)

[greenstar]

We've had the same problem but with ground elder rather than couch grass.  Ended up digging over the whole heap (only took a couple of hours!)and getting all the weeds out and got really lovely compost to chuck on the raised beds.  I'd say it's well worth going through it and getting all the couch out - where else will you get that much free compost?  Good luck! :D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Cover with black plastic and leave it till next year. Meanwhile, start a new heap.

[Charlie R]

Thank you for the advice, looks like my Bank Holiday weekend is now fully booked up!

[Curryandchips]

Yes you can riddle the compost as you need it, putting the couch and any other debris into a bucket of water, that should see it off. The water is good as a feed too. Alternatively, denying it light by covering with black plastic will also achieve good results. The way to view couch, is as potential compost ...