Weeds growing through compost

[Bmac]

HI,

I have one of those dustbin/dalek like compost bins and have weeds (I assume) growing up inside it because I cannot take compost from the hatch at the bottom without breaking whatever is growing in there. I am going to make proper wooden compost bins and was wondering if it would be worth putting that weed fabric in the bottom or do I need worms to be able to get in.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Brendan

[NOG]

You occasionally get stuff growing in the bins. It is normaly potates.

I just pull them out.

[rustylady]

You occasionally get stuff growing in the bins. It is normaly potates.

I just pull them out.

Or bindweed!!

[rustylady]

HI,

I have one of those dustbin/dalek like compost bins and have weeds (I assume) growing up inside it because I cannot take compost from the hatch at the bottom without breaking whatever is growing in there.

Why are you worried about breaking whatever it is?

[Bmac]

Thank you for your replies.

Whenever I try to take compost out I have to dig through a solid mass of roots or stems to get to the compost. The entire base of the bin is full of them. Whenever I see videos or pictures of people taking compost from their piles they are always taking black, fluffy gold out and not having to use a spade horizontally to dig their way in to break the growth in their compost.

I checked to see if the offending vegetation was roots from potatoes but it wasn't. I think it might be Couch grass on a mission to get to the sun.

Brendan

[rustylady]

I would suggest lifting the Dalek off the pile and moving it to a new site, preferably free of existing couch grass. The pile of compost can then be attacked with a spade to break up the roots. If it's reasonably well rotted it can be used - if not, then mix it up, remove as many of the roots as you can and pile it back into the Dalek.

[Bmac]

Thank you,

I am going to do that because I'm losing good compost that I've carefully tried to keep properly balanced and that is lovely above the root tangle.

[Two_Sheds]

Hmmm, you don't want to be putting fresh couch grass in the Dalek. Kill it first by drowning in a bucket, or crisping on the path