Grass clippings in compost?

[Darth Griffin]

I've already heard of people putting their yard clippings in the compost. Is that safe to do with Bermuda grass? I know the compost is supposed to heat up enough to kill things, but since I can't stop this stuff from growing anywhere else without using poisons, I'm worried about it rooting and growing in my compost tumbler. I mean I've had this stuff grow up a 6 foot wall, between the cinderblocks and the concrete coating, just to crack open and pop out the top of the wall.

 

[Sluggy]

OK if you mix with brown material otherwise it will turn into sludge.

 

[Meadowlark]

Without being treated with poisons, yes, I definitely use it in compost and running a hot compost, it is never a problem, Bermuda is Bermuda and it is its nature to spread but in compost no problem. If herbicides are used on it like weed and kill, I would not use it for anything...but the trash heap.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

OK if you mix with brown material otherwise it will turn into sludge.

I don't think we get Bermuda grass here, but I would agree if it is normal grass mowings, Them I tend to use as a mulch, especially around things like potatoes, by the time I dig the spuds I can just dig it into the ground.

 

[roadrunner]

If the area (compost pile) is shaded Bermuda grass will die. However, I don't know how long the seeds stay viable. Bermuda grass is not a problem for me, despite being surrounded by the stuff. Bermuda grass competes with St Augustine grass and it reseeds itself much more readily than St Augustine, but when those two grasses come under shade the Bermuda disappears.

And since I have basically a food forest the Bermuda just can't survive in my yard. I do see it attempting to take ground in more of the sunnier spots, but it's very easy to pull out.

I personally would not have a problem throwing Bermuda grass in a compost pile, but I would look for it attempting to sprout and just bury/cover it and it dies very quickly without sun.

 

[cpp gardener]

You could also let the Bermudagrass clippings dry out for a week and then add them to the mix. Especially in Arizona in Summer they should dry out pretty fast.

 

[yardiron]

I would think that if the compost pile is active and working it would be too hot for it to sprout. The idea is that the composting itself destroys seeds.

I toss in everything organic that has not been sprayed with anything and rotate it every few weeks. The underlayer is generally smoldering by the time I turn it again. I often have things sprout but turning them under takes care of that just the same.

I don't have a drum or barrel, just a pile in a cage, I'll take a long tine rake and pull the top over to one side, and roll the mid layer back, and push the top layer under it before dumping on the next batch.
I put everything in the pile except tomato plants or any unhealthy plants.

 

[MiTmite9]

I've already heard of people putting their yard clippings in the compost. Is that safe to do with Bermuda grass? I know the compost is supposed to heat up enough to kill things, but since I can't stop this stuff from growing anywhere else without using poisons, I'm worried about it rooting and growing in my compost tumbler. I mean I've had this stuff grow up a 6 foot wall, between the cinderblocks and the concrete coating, just to crack open and pop out the top of the wall.

Why even take the chance? Bermuda grass seeds are viable up to three years. If you already have problem areas in your garden, thanks to Bermuda grass --- and unless your compost is definitely heating up enough to kill those seeds, why risk it?

We've had Bermuda grass as our "lawn" forever. Decades upon decades. We are 100% pesticide/herbicide-free on our property. We rid areas of Bermuda grass by yanking up that dastardly stuff and making sure to dig up all of the roots and rhizomes. Sometimes it takes years to free an area of the stuff.

Use those grass clippings as mulch, but only if the clippings are brown, brown, brown.