Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Compost from grass and printer paper?

peterbolsterpeterbolster Posts: 2
in The potting shed
As I've been working from home for quite a while, I'm generating quite a lot of shredded printer paper.  Whilst also having a fair size lawn, it occurred to me that, as the paper is "brown" material and and the grass is "green", it might be possible to make worthwhile garden compost from just these two materials.  Has anyone tried this, or know whether it is possible?
Also, if it is - what proportions should I use, as I would think a bucket of grass clippings is considerably more packed than one of printer paper?
Many thanks,
Peter

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I'd have thought about 50-50 to start with by volume.  Early grass cuttings tend to be very wet, juicy and claggy so you need to shake them out of the container to aerate them and then layer them thinly with the paper.  Later on the grass will be a bit direr so more grass, less paper.   You can add an accelerator to help or just pee on it to get it started.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Worth a try, but you'd need to be careful to mix it well and keep the right levels of air and moisture in it. Here are a couple of links that might be useful.
     
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • peterbolsterpeterbolster Posts: 2
    Thanks Both, and especially for the quick response!
    I'll give it a bash over the weekend.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think you'd need to put in much more paper than you'd think. The 'browns' in my compost system is mostly from household paper and cardboard and it works pretty well but you do need a lot, because it reduces to nothing. But give it some time and you will see if the mix is too wet (too much grass) or too dry (too much paper). Sawdust, wood chips, cut up dry leaves also work well as browns.
Sign In or Register to comment.