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gardeningheidi

Does pouring boiling water on compost kill beneficial bacteria?

GardeningHeidi
10 years ago

Relatively new gardener here with what is probably a total newbie question.

I just read what struck me as a brilliant idea for pouring boiling water on compost to kill weed seeds. However, it has been my understanding that part of the great benefit of compost is all its lovely little bacteria, and I know boiling water kills bacteria, so I was confused by this suggestion.

The person who made the suggestion is a vastly better gardener than I am, so I know they're probably right that this if fine to do to compost. I'm just curious about WHY they're right. Does the beneficial bacteria somehow survive the water or is the value of compost not really in the bacteria at all?

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