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Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 11:54
| ONe of my compost bins has been a wire mesh bottom, ditto with sides, but sited over the roots of a neighbors maple tree. (Where in my yard aren't the roots from that tree?)... I noticed in areas nearby plants seeming to die from my guess is V.wilt. Again, just guessing, it's due to some damage of those ROOTS and the poor draining compacted soil there. The composter is about 6 feet away. Each season when I go to empty it, obviously the hungry awful roots of THAT tree are also grabbing in and up. I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE ITS LOCATION. IN the meantime, is it possible that when I spread and utilized the compost, any roots or whatever I may have damaged from that tree in the process could be spreading disease?? I even put the pile first on big square stone blocks, then the wire, but still... need to move it. Just afraid...
Any advice?? I do have a new bin I need to assemble that's all enclosed (except for air circ.) that will be where nothing is. I also have a third that probably needs to go or yet moved as it's too close to house and I'm afraid of voles, flies, etc. Amy |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by jonhughes So.Oregon (jonehughes@hotmail.com) on Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 13:52
| Hi Amy, I think one of best ways to be rid of your particular problem is too pour concrete and then sit your composter on that. It will last a lifetime and it is very inexpensive (since there is no maintenance). You don't need to build walls, just a base to keep out undesirables, if you are a "cold" composter, there will still be millions of worms, I make so much compost now, some actually hangs around with nothing to do, and those piles are full of worms (I think it is because I put in lots of shredded leaves)
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- Posted by greyandamy (My Page) on Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 15:49
| wow, love the photos! IMPRESSED. Is pouring concrete physically difficult? I have a ton of back/joint issues? Yep, I'm a cold composter, but it gets so steamy hot.. Amy |
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- Posted by jonhughes So.Oregon (jonehughes@hotmail.com) on Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 16:02
| Yeah, It can be, maybe you can get a neighborhood kid to help you.... |
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| I think it is unlikely that you are spreading disease via compost, or that the tree would be a vector for diseases in another plant. Have you checked for grubs in the soil? |
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- Posted by greyandamy (My Page) on Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 17:07
| there are grubs, yes.... And yes, I must control better this spring.. still, I've had several things (mostly viburnums) die of V.wilt in nearby area... the soil needs better drained... thanks all for the ideas, So much appreciated! amy |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Tue, Feb 14, 12 at 11:29
| I would guess the wilt is related to drainage rather than the fact that there are tree roots there. In fact, if you have fungal diseases due to too much moisture or poor drainage, it also makes sense that a thirsty tree would be attracted to that area as a water source. So they are related but the tree roots are not causing the disease. |
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- Posted by greyandamy (My Page) on Tue, Feb 14, 12 at 15:42
| Thanks so much toxcrusadr...yes, drainage issuea are horrible there esp. after a summer project with men and large rocks... and the way the landscape is... I'll be stuck for awhile for a solution, I've put layers of soil/compost on but they erode away, my dogs are good at helping with that. I HATE GRASS and can't grow it.. will think, THANKS!! I'll look at plants for poorly drained soil |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Tue, Feb 14, 12 at 16:15
| If mulch is eroding away, it sounds like a *runoff* problem. |
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