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Dead, removed moss from the grass, can I compost it and other items?

alanhaworth1alanhaworth1 Posts: 4
in Tools and techniques

Hi All,


hope your all staying safe during this pandemic.


A few weeks ago I scarified the grass etc (im new to gardening), removed all the moss etc, there it 10 black bags full in the garage, I am looking at buying a composting bin, I've just a quick google and seen mixed messages about composting moss, so before buying a composting bin, I want to make sure I can put grass clips, unused, fruit/veg, head of flowers etc init, chunk of graff ripped out? and possible moss, if so I would fill it in no time ready for next year, how long does it take for everything to rot?


gets expensive to buy compost every year

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's all good that you mention, but not the moss.
    You need to add brown stuff too, as in cardboard and mashed up dead plant stalks etc.
    I avoid putting any weeds with seed heads in too as they invariably grow soon as you use the compost unless you regularly turn it.

    I tried composting moss that I'd scarified many years ago. After 18 months it still hadn't broken up at all but looked dried and dead. I put some out on a small area and a couple of days after rain it started greening-up!
    It seems such a waste as I know huge amounts come out.
    You could always use it to line a LOT of hanging baskets :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Hi

    I have been composting for approximately 18 months. I have learnt a lot and made mistakes along the way.  

    Your compost bin needs a mixture of green and brown materials. It is roughly 50/50 mix.

    Green items are things like grass clippings, veg/fruit scraps. Brown is cardboard, twigs, straw etc..

    The mixture needs turning regularly to airiate it.

    I am not sure about composting moss. There are others on here who are rather knowledgeable about composting. I think @Wilderbeast knows a lot and can help with this question.

    I got my first lot of compost this spring. It took about a year to turn from household scraps/garden waste to compost. Time depends on where the bin is (sun/shade)  and also the size of the things you add to it. If they are small/shredded they break down quicker than larger pieces going in.

    I hope this helps. I was not really fussed about composting until I had my bin bought for me. I now love my compost bin. It gets quite addictive, adding to it and checking how it is doing and it was a happy day when I got me first lot which I used to mulch around my garden plants




  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I think you've got everything useful in the above, i.e. it won't compost effectively.  You don't say where you are Alan but, if you're able to, burn it.  Get a fire going so that it has red ash at the heart, then heap your sackfuls all round it.  The heat will build up in the centre and create a solid fire then, wherever the flames break through, cover the hole up to keep the heat in.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Fire.


    All that thatch and moss: fire.
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @alanhaworth1 so with composting you have 2 options of working hard and having fast results or doing less and things take longer. 

    Moss will compost, however it's always really dry and not lots of life. I work hard at composting to make lots and would never throw anything away (literally nothing goes in our brown bin ever !!!). I'd turn the moss into a heap and water it well as it goes in so it's throughly wet. Then it's a case of turning regularly for fast compost, adding grass clippings or vegg waste or absolutely anything in. All that stuff will get hot and break it down. If you are more relaxed about the compost then I would still add the moss and other waste (not food waste in this case as the heap won't be hot enough to deter vermin) and turn when you can be bothered. 

    It takes much longer with a relaxed attitude and some items like moss can take a good while to rot down. My fast heaps accept all my love and attention and produce compost of excellent mulching quality in 3/4 months (I am deemed a total weirdo by all who know me). In short moss will compost, all dead material does In the end it just takes time 
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