I made one with some spare netting I had. I'm not sure chicken wire would be much good for sifting, unless you doubled it over to make the holes a reasonable size. If you're just using it to mulch, it's not likely to need sieving.
I used some of mine recently, just for mulching/improving a small, new area, so I didn't need to sift it, but it would depend what you needed the sifted material for. Seeds will need quite fine material, as would cuttings, or very small plants, for potting on.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I made one with some spare netting I had. I'm not sure chicken wire would be much good for sifting, unless you doubled it over to make the holes a reasonable size. If you're just using it to mulch, it's not likely to need sieving.
I used some of mine recently, just for mulching/improving a small, new area, so I didn't need to sift it, but it would depend what you needed the sifted material for. Seeds will need quite fine material, as would cuttings, or very small plants, for potting on.
Well I am taking a very scientific/methodical approach ... harvest the compost and chuck on the borders. Bosh. Done.
I'll chuck it as is (and use my hands to find any very large bits). later in the year I might start using subsequent batches as potting compost/seed compost.
I made one with some spare netting I had. I'm not sure chicken wire would be much good for sifting, unless you doubled it over to make the holes a reasonable size. If you're just using it to mulch, it's not likely to need sieving.
I used some of mine recently, just for mulching/improving a small, new area, so I didn't need to sift it, but it would depend what you needed the sifted material for. Seeds will need quite fine material, as would cuttings, or very small plants, for potting on.
Well I am taking a very scientific/methodical approach ... harvest the compost and chuck on the borders. Bosh. Done.
I think my method is somewhat similar
I only sift it if I need it for the processes I mentioned re seeds etc. It's great as a mulch though - hedging/shrubs/trees - anything woody. It would seem a lot of the commercial compost [which is a different medium from our home made stuff] is needing sifted nowadays, judging by many of the threads/comments on the forum, especially in the last couple of years. General consensus seems to be the increase in demand, and therefore a lot of stuff being produced before it was ready. I sometimes get a bag or two from the nursery I use, as it's excellent. Too far to go just for that though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not really - just sift what you have and use it. It does depend on the plant though. If it's something that needs sharp drainage, you can add grit or perlite to the mix, and if it's the opposite [sweet peas for example] you want it to retain moisture well so you could add a little soil or leaf mould, but it won't make a huge difference for the germination, and early stages. It's the growing on phase that's slightly different as the small plants will usually need a bit of extra oomph. For most seed, it should be fine as it is, if it's well sifted, and/or with some Perlite etc, especially if you sow in autumn when you don't want lots of rapid growth. That soft growth is then much weaker for overwintering, which you don't want with small plants. That's also why you can buy seed composts, which are lower in nutrition. If you're sowing in late winter/early spring, the medium can be richer, as the seeds will be fine germinating and growing on at that time of year.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If/when i turn it into seed/potting compost... Is there a recipe to follow?
I was determined to use my two/three-year-old garden compost for seed sowing this year. So I sieved some to a fine tilth and added some vermiculite and horticultural sharp sand. It was a really nice mix. However @bédé warned (on the big compost thread) that weed seeds could be a problem, so I've propagated some for three weeks without sowing any of my own seeds. Seems he was right cos' the trays have repeatedly sprouted quite a few weed shoots. As he suggested, I could sterilise it by putting it in the oven but I'm loath to do this having seen small worms, millipedes etc. in the original compost and I don't want to kill them. So I'll be using bought stuff for seeds this year until I've seen my new compost bays (in the sun) get to 60°C and then I'll try the same experiment next year.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
well the compost has been emptied onto the borders. thousands of worms ... eggshells ... avacado stones... twigs
It does now mean that I have an empty compost bin which i am filling with some old s0ds of turf that had been taking up precious space. next job move some plants into the free space .... meaning i can they lay some lawn (just enough to camp with the kids). the rest of the space will be wildlife ponds and bird/insect friendly plants.
well the compost has been emptied onto the borders. thousands of worms ... eggshells ... avacado stones... twigs
Mine usually has lots of eggshells. I often wonder why people go to the bother of crushing/baking them etc - just chuck 'em in, and then on. It's all fine
The only problem with the turf is that it might still stay a bit solid for quite a while. I've occasionally stuck bits in, and they don't break down easily. I remember someone on the forum saying it breaks down better when dry, and there's no chance of that for me. I usually just stack turf up, but it does take up a fair bit of room. The other use for it is to put in the bottom of any large pots if you grow annuals. It helps retain moisture - useful if you're in a very dry area. I use it for the sweet peas as they need to be kept quite moist all the time.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
well the compost has been emptied onto the borders. thousands of worms ... eggshells ... avacado stones... twigs
Mine usually has lots of eggshells. I often wonder why people go to the bother of crushing/baking them etc - just chuck 'em in, and then on. It's all fine
The only problem with the turf is that it might still stay a bit solid for quite a while. I've occasionally stuck bits in, and they don't break down easily. I remember someone on the forum saying it breaks down better when dry, and there's no chance of that for me. I usually just stack turf up, but it does take up a fair bit of room. The other use for it is to put in the bottom of any large pots if you grow annuals. It helps retain moisture - useful if you're in a very dry area. I use it for the sweet peas as they need to be kept quite moist all the time.
Aah well, we'll see. The turf is heavy clay, and in a lidded compost bin. I'll give it a few months and see what state it is in. I needed to clear space anyway to allow for the lawn and pond.
I've had pieces of turf [also clay] in the same conditions as you - a lidded bin, and it's still in the same state after more than a year, so don't hold your breath I chopped up the bits I had and redistributed them at the back of a couple of borders. I lifted the back lawn a couple of years ago, to make a new, larger pond, so there was quite a wee bit of it to find space for.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I used some of mine recently, just for mulching/improving a small, new area, so I didn't need to sift it, but it would depend what you needed the sifted material for. Seeds will need quite fine material, as would cuttings, or very small plants, for potting on.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'll chuck it as is (and use my hands to find any very large bits). later in the year I might start using subsequent batches as potting compost/seed compost.
I only sift it if I need it for the processes I mentioned re seeds etc. It's great as a mulch though - hedging/shrubs/trees - anything woody.
It would seem a lot of the commercial compost [which is a different medium from our home made stuff] is needing sifted nowadays, judging by many of the threads/comments on the forum, especially in the last couple of years. General consensus seems to be the increase in demand, and therefore a lot of stuff being produced before it was ready.
I sometimes get a bag or two from the nursery I use, as it's excellent. Too far to go just for that though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
For most seed, it should be fine as it is, if it's well sifted, and/or with some Perlite etc, especially if you sow in autumn when you don't want lots of rapid growth. That soft growth is then much weaker for overwintering, which you don't want with small plants. That's also why you can buy seed composts, which are lower in nutrition. If you're sowing in late winter/early spring, the medium can be richer, as the seeds will be fine germinating and growing on at that time of year.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
It does now mean that I have an empty compost bin which i am filling with some old s0ds of turf that had been taking up precious space. next job move some plants into the free space .... meaning i can they lay some lawn (just enough to camp with the kids). the rest of the space will be wildlife ponds and bird/insect friendly plants.
Mine usually has lots of eggshells. I often wonder why people go to the bother of crushing/baking them etc - just chuck 'em in, and then on. It's all fine
The only problem with the turf is that it might still stay a bit solid for quite a while. I've occasionally stuck bits in, and they don't break down easily. I remember someone on the forum saying it breaks down better when dry, and there's no chance of that for me. I usually just stack turf up, but it does take up a fair bit of room.
The other use for it is to put in the bottom of any large pots if you grow annuals. It helps retain moisture - useful if you're in a very dry area. I use it for the sweet peas as they need to be kept quite moist all the time.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I chopped up the bits I had and redistributed them at the back of a couple of borders. I lifted the back lawn a couple of years ago, to make a new, larger pond, so there was quite a wee bit of it to find space for.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...