Coastal and Tropical South Be Careful Composting Weeds It's wise
to compost as much plant debris as possible, including twigs and
small stems. However, it is also wise to remember not to put
especially noxious weed plants with perennial roots or ones that
have set seeds into the compost pile unless you are certain its
temperature will exceed 130 degrees F. Few of us monitor this
temperature and so should burn or trash these problematic weed
plants. The first step in weed control may be to get them out of
the garden, but the last step is to prevent their return. The
leaf pile you made behind the shrubs last fall needs attention
now. Warming temperatures and the rainiest weather some parts of
our regions expect to see in a year have got its decomposition
going. Grab a pitchfork and turn the pile. Lift and drop onto
the ground or a tarp next to the pile. If you want the leaves to
compost faster, sprinkle in some cottonseed meal or other
organic nitrogen source. For a pile at the optimum 3 foot x 3
foot size, use