Second hand compost ?

[Robert2502]

I've got a garden centre, part of a DIY store , near me that is throwing away loads of dead plants in their pots with the compost, they have a cubic metre bag full they said I can have, my question is whether this compost can be recycled or is it best avoided because of potential diseases ?

[nickdub]

I wouldn't worry about diseases too much, unless you are growing something sensitive and valuable but you can get insect pests and their eggs in old compost at home or form a G.C. So what I'd do is take some but store it in a barrel or similar full of water for a month or so - that will kill most things.

[SarrissUK]

I'd grab it, no questions asked

[Jay-ell]

I'd empty the pots and put the compost and plants together in a pile/compost bin and leave them there till spring.

Free pots.

[Small pumpkin]

I’d do exactly as Jay-ell. And free pots is very exciting

[burnie]

I am adding my own finished plants into my compost heap, old tommies, peppers/chillies/ cukes etc, my heap will be left for a year then and will be used this time next year.

[Can the Man]

I've got a garden centre, part of a DIY store , near me that is throwing away loads of dead plants in their pots with the compost, they have a cubic metre bag full they said I can have, my question is whether this compost can be recycled or is it best avoided because of potential diseases ?

Go with it Robert, never look a gift horse in the eye, as others have said you get a load of free pots as well.

I would be inclined to put all the dead plants in a compost bin, then put the free compost from the pot into a drum or a separate composter and spray with water and leave sit for a few weeks, then spread on some over winter beds.

[nickdub]

I forgot to add to my previous comment that if you do decide to re-use old compost next year, then mix a little artificial fertilizer in with it before putting it in containers as it will most likely have hardly any goodness left in it.

[MarkPelican]

As an alternative to Nickdub's suggestion of drowning the compost, put it in a black binbag in a sunny place, the heat will kill most things off.

[Robert2502]

I'm going with the sealed bin bag idea.

This compost is usually full of roots from potted plants so that would all compost down in the bag.

I have access to unlimited free horse manure so maybe I could mix some of that in too ?

[nickdub]

I'm going with the sealed bin bag idea.

This compost is usually full of roots from potted plants so that would all compost down in the bag.

I have access to unlimited free horse manure so maybe I could mix some of that in too ?

I'd rot the horse manure down separately to the compost, if I were you. Though the manure could be mixed with other compostable material such as garden waste. If next year you want to fill containers then that would be the time to mix some of the G.C. compost with your own home made stuff.

[ESBkevin]

Black bags sounds like a good idea. It will be largely spent in terms of nutrients, but some fish blood and bone mixed in or chicken muck pellets will envigorate it nicely. Alternately use it as a mulch on the beds while using your rotted horse muck as the feed. It will all improve soil texture and water management.

[muck lover]

Ive had a lot of success using old compost for containers mixing it with home made compost/BFB/chicken manure or leafmould or any combination of above. If I had too much I would use it as a mulch on a veggie bed. I wish someone would give me a ton bag of it with free pots thrown in!