I've been watching videos that claim sunflowers can absorb heavy metals and toxins from the soil. My question is, once these sunflowers have been grown, what am I supposed to do with them? I wouldn't want to feed them to my animals or throw them in the compost. Should I burn them, or do I need to take them to the landfill?
3 Answers
Before doing anything, it's a good idea to test your soil first to see if there are actually any heavy metals present. If you've confirmed there's contamination, then you'll have a better idea of how to handle the sunflowers. Just throwing them away without knowing may not be necessary!
Actually, some studies suggest that through composting, the heavy metals in sunflowers get absorbed and rendered inert. So, it could be safe to compost them after cutting them up, but definitely check the soil first for guidance. Composting can help bind heavy metals, making them less harmful. Just be cautious!
Wow, I didn’t know composting could help with that! Thanks for the insight!
You could cut the sunflowers down and bag them in brown paper bags for your trash pick-up on yard waste days. It’s a simple way to dispose of them safely without adding them to your compost or feeding them to animals.
Exactly! Testing the soil should be your first step to know what you're really dealing with.