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Composting 'Stinking Irises'

Birdy13Birdy13 Posts: 595
This year a lot of self seeded 'stinking iris' plants have appeared in various parts of my garden. I admit that when the orange berries appear they can be a striking sight in the right places - river banks or wild areas - but they are such a thug with regards to other plants that get completely elbowed out. I've lost a complete bed of Monadas and Heleniums that have been coming up each year since 2015 and the much loved 21 year old Fennel plant is now also being threatened too. 

I'm presently digging out all the unwanted stink irises and they going into the garden bin for the council to collect... 

...but then I wondered whether it is safe to compost the leaves? I'm just thinking about how some plants like ground elder can regenerate from any part of the plant: I don't want to turn a dozen thugs into hundreds.

I'd be grateful for the thoughts of all the great gardening minds out there please. Such a lot of my garden's energy has gone into these magnificent but unwanted plants and I'd like to salvage some of it. Otherwise, they're staying in the bin. 

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,159
    you'll only get them if you compost the seeds. It's the plants that spread by underground runners that can lead to problems


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Birdy13Birdy13 Posts: 595
    Thanks, Nut, for that quick confirmation. I'll retrieve them from the bin and cut the leaves up for the heap.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,451
     it is safe to compost the leaves? 

    YES!
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Birdy13Birdy13 Posts: 595
    Thanks for all above replies. Latest update: I cut up the 'stink iris' two days ago and put them in the compost heap. The heap temperature yesterday had risen from 33°C to 40°C. Today it is 50°C so I am thrilled to know it's started working again. It seems to like iris leaves! - or perhaps just being given a drink in this recent hot weather.🤔
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