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Composting Roots
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Posted by mikemerk z6 NJ (My Page) on Mon, Feb 1, 10 at 11:34
| Many times during the year I come across annuals that have died out. I always cut off the foliage above the ground / pot but can you also compost the root ball? If so, do the roots take a long time to breakdown? I'm not talking large roots. At most the roots are about as thick as a piece of spaghetti. I would think the best way to go about this and to speed the process is break up the ball rather then toss it in the pile whole.
-Mike |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Composting Roots
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| They are readily compostable. They shouldn't take long to break down, either (big roots, like branches, are a different story). I'm wary of composting some roots (like field bindweed) if I don't know the compost will get hot, but annuals should be no worry at all. |
RE: Composting Roots
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 2, 10 at 14:39
| Adding soil to a compost pile will slow it down. Since roots are typically incorporated with some soil residuals, I think they slow the pile down a bit. If you are trying to achieve completed compost in three months or less, then this is an issue. Our pile is slow, and I only remove compost once a year, in the spring, from the pit beneath the pile. I compost all sorts of roots, also branches up to one inch diameter, sunflower stalks, raspberry canes, in addition to shredded maple leaves. I always find completed compost in the pit, but it takes time to get there. |
RE: Composting Roots
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| Yes, you can. With no reservations. |
RE: Composting Roots
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| I empty the containers we had plants growing in into the compost and it takes more time then anything else. If I use a commercial potting soil that has vermiculite or perlite I will find that in the compost when everything is finished, but no roots from the plants. Tree and shrub roots will be different and they can take quite some time to be digested. |
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