Sue Sanderson – our horticulturist expert
Sue Says
There has been a lot of research into this topic but generally the temperature would need to be above 40°C to kill pathogens and seeds – about 55°C is recommended to kill weed seeds effectively (although this is normally only achieved at the very centre of the heap). If the temperature is much higher than this, the beneficial micro-organisms may be killed, stopping the composting process. Ideally you need to monitor the temperature at the centre of the heap with a thermometer and turn the compost regularly to encourage micro-organism activity. The type of organic matter that is added to a compost heap will also have a massive effect on the temperature of the heap.
