Once again the weather was kind for our working Bee - our first for 2016. It was an informative morning with a talk about noxious weeds and their disposal/recycling, followed by a hands-on demonstration of compost making by our Allotment holder Judy from 'The Compost Collective'.
Noxious weeds.
There are a few weeds that require special attention within the Sanctuary Gardens. Most others are fine to go into the compost but these need to be kept separated to avoid the spread these invasive weeds.
1. Kikuyu Grass.
This is a very invasive plant that will easily smother small bushes and other plants. It needs to be put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down. After this time, it can be used as a mulch within the food forest.
2. Tradescantia a.k.a. Wandering Willy & other common names.
Likes a shady and moist habitat. It is important to remove every last piece of Tradescantia when weeding and to ensure none is dropped as it will grow vigorously from any remaining stems or leaves. It needs at least 3 or 4 weeding sessions to successfully eradicate. Put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down.
3. Convolvulus
A climbing creeper that will easily overwhelm other plants. It breaks off easily but the roots need to be dug out to successfully remove it. Often the roots will travel a long way back to the main rootstock underground and this should be dug out. Put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down.
4. Hemlock
This is a poisonous plant so needs special care. Put it into the plastic wheelie bins by the shed for disposal. This is one of the few plants that we do not recycle at the Sanctuary.
5. Oxalis
Has clover like leaves and different coloured flowers including white, pink and yellow. It spreads via its bulbs and is difficult to get rid of. If pulled, the leaves will come away easily but the bulbs will remain behind to grow again. They need to be dug out. Please put the entire plant, paying particular attention to collecting all of the bulbs, into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down.
6. Moth plant
Has white flowers and milky sap. This also needs to go into the plastic wheelie bins by the shed for disposal. This is another of the few plants that we do not recycle at the Sanctuary.
7. Mint
Grows similarly to Kikuyu by sending out long runners and gradually colonising an area. The runners and the roots need to be dug out and then put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down. The leaves can be dried for making Mint tea or adding to Yogurt for a refreshing dip.
8. Dock
Dig deeply to remove the entire taproot of the Dock. Use a spade to do this and remove before the seedheads set or gather all the seeds and put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down.
9. Titch grass or Couch
Horrible stuff! Grows on underground runners and needs to be dug out completely to remove successfully as it will grow from every node on the stem and roots. If allowed to establish it will invade.
10. False Tumeric plant
Grows from rhizomes and needs to be dug out and put into Black Bags for 4 - 6 months to break down.
When weeding your plot, please separate the noxious weeds from the rest of your weeds. The plastic wheelie bins and black bags are only for the noxious weeds, as all of the others can go into the compost to build up our soil.
Ensure the bags are tied off securely and leave in a sunny spot to decompose. If the bags are not tied off securely the weeds will regrow.
Also please ensure that minimal soil (to reduce the weight, better to keep it in the garden) and no sticks or sharp objects go into the black bags as they can puncture the bags.
Partially decomposed noxious weeds
Once the bags have sat for anything up to a year, the decomposed material is then sorted to check that nothing is still viable or growing and it is put around the trees in the food forest as a nutritious mulch.
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