Used compost

[Noosner]

Hi folks, needing some advice re old compost. Had a good re-organisation at the weekend and chucked out some plants I'd kept in large containers for many years.

The old compost was full of little roots going nowhere and I wondered: do they break down and turn into good stuff in time? Or is it best to chuck the whole lot out?

What I did was get shot of the very rooty compost, then picked any larger roots out of the rest and reused it at the bottom of pots where I was repotting. Does that sound alright?

My garden compost isn't ready yet and it is so expensive to buy new when you are dealing with large containers.

[Bigmallly]

I'd throw it on to the compost heap. Don't forget to keep turning it every so often. This will speed up the decomposition.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Agree with BM!

I honestly throw now't away, all will decompose over time!

And anything free appeals to me! But you and BM should appreciate that being fellow "Yorkies"

[Martin H]

I would re-use the compost as you are doing. I would probably freshen it up with a bit of blood fish and bone first because it will have been emptied of nutrients.

[Bill HH]

Yes I re use compost, I think any old roots in it will break down as mini compost. As martin said some BFB works wonders too. The only exception to that is if it has had diseased plants in it such as potato blight then I wouldn't use it for spuds that's for sure.

[bearded bloke]

All good advice above

[Greenleaves]

Mine goes over the plot as a top dressing...any little roots just wither and die

[Potstubsdustbins]

Heavily rooted stuff goes in the compost bin. The remained is riddled to remove bits of root, the bits go in the compost bin the remaining compost goes into dustbins for storage until needed.

When I require it I chuck in a trug mix in some Growmore or dried FYM and reuse as if it were new. This year despite growing everything in containers I have only bought 4 60tltr bags of new and still have 1 1/2 of those left.

[Noosner]

That's brill - thanks everyone for your advice, much appreciated. I hadn't thought of either putting it on the compost heap, adding nutrients or riddling to remove the bigger bits of root, but now you say it it makes perfect sense. What is FYM, Potstubsdustbins? Deano - you are so right about the appeal of anything free!!

[Bigmallly]

FYM = Farmyard Manure.

[Noosner]

Thanks, BM!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I buy it by the bag its dried so concentrated and clean to use. Seems expensive when you have to buy a bag but its in its second year now and I will get at least another year out of it.

[Noosner]

Thank you PTD, did not realise you could buy it granulated, but have just googled it, and it looks very good.

[brownfingers]

I save all the stuff I've grown tommys in. Give it a good smashing up and add a bit of growmore and save it in a big bin to break down over winter. Then I use it for potting up chrysanths and suchlike the year after. They seem to do well on it. Also top up onion beds etc with it.

[4390evans]

Ive just broke mine down and put it in my compost bin. xx