COMPOSTING

COMPOSTING TIPS

  • Dry compost
    Add some water and turn with a garden fork.
  • Too wet
    Mix in woody materials and straw.
  • Strange looking compost?
    Don't worry if your compost is fine and crumbly, lumpy or stringy - all types can be used.
  • How often do I have to turn the compost?
    The more frequent the the compost is turned, the quicker the composting process.
  • Bad smell?
    When vegetation decomposes it is only natural for it to smell slightly; however, if this becomes too unpleasant, turn the material around to add air. Adding materials such as leaves, straw, dry grass or wood matter can also reduce the smell.
  • When is the compost ready?
    When the compost is ready, it will smell sweet and look like a rich dark soil. This will take between two and six months.

It is important to get the carbon to nitrogen ratio right (C : N). Carbon is in tougher, drier materials , like straw, hay, plant stems and is highest of all in sawdust and wood chips. Nitrogen is found in soft, green, sappy growth, like grass cuttings.

Mix the different materials up as much as you can. The easiest way to do that is to make layers, don't make thick layers of any one material, especially not fresh grass cuttings as they quickly reduce to a slimy mess.Small amounts of soil help to introduce beneficial bacteria, a thin dusting (not more) throughout is a good idea.

Very tough materials, like branches, will eventually break down, given time, in a compost pile, so they either need a special long term heap, or they need to have their surface area greatly increased by crushing, chipping or shredding.

For further advice on home composting please click here

COMPOSTING AT YOUR LOCAL RECYCLING CENTRE

If you haven't got room to compost at home, you can participate in composting at your local recycling centre. Click here to find out where.
 



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