Composting milkweed - Ask Extension
A lecture on the Northern Virginia Master Gardeners' website stated that it is important to prune milkweed in early July so that when Monarchs appear ...
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Composting milkweed #874920
Asked June 27, 2024, 9:32 AM EDT
A lecture on the Northern Virginia Master Gardeners' website stated that it is important to prune milkweed in early July so that when Monarchs appear in the Fall, the new shoots on the milkweed will provide caterpillars with tender leaves to eat. I'm wondering if I can compost the prunings from the milkweed or will the toxin in the milkweed hurt other plants.
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
It's not necessary to prune them for that reason, as it's not common in nature for the plants to have that much young growth that time of year (Monarchs in fall are not reproducing any more, just getting ready to migrate). If you choose to try it, though, then yes, the clippings can be composted without a risk to other plants by using the finished compost.
Miri
Miri
