• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ransom
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Timothy Norton
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Tereza Okava
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Matt McSpadden
  • thomas rubino

Best way to compost Datura stramonium in situ?

 
gardener
Posts: 803
Location: 5,000' 35.24N zone 7b Albuquerque, NM
563
hugelkultur forest garden fungi foraging trees cooking food preservation building solar greening the desert homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
After planting walnut trees, watering, then mulching with wood chips from an arborist, my 100' x 30' berm or hugel is covered in Datura stramonium (jimson weed, thorn apple, devil's trumpet...). The plant has died back following the killing frost leaving an excessive quantity of Datura leaves, vines, roots and seed capsules.
To remedy the problem, I am considering spending the winter months gathering nearby dirt (by digging a dry pond for water infiltration) then using the subsoil from that depression to cover the billions of seeds. After depositing this subsoil (caliche) over the plant remains, I plan cover the "dirt" with cardboard, followed by horse manure, branches, leaves and and other sheet composting material. By spring, I'd like to cover the sheet compost with local sacaton grass.
Anyone have better organic approach to get Datura stramonium under control without hauling it "away"?
 
Posts: 723
250
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Amy, your plan I think will work if you can place enough material on the berm.  The only thing I would suggest is to remove all or most of the seed pods as there could still be seeds inside.  Keep a close watch next spring for any new plants bursting forth and dig em out!

The datura in the east produces a lot of seed but I don't remember a very high germination rate.  Please keep us posted on how your plan works out.

Peace

 
I need a new interior decorator. This tiny ad just painted every room in my house purple.
Back the BEL - Invest in Permaculture
https://permies.com/w/bel-fundraiser
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic