The more frequent you are able to turn your compost heap during the summer months, the better. It should feel a bit like a wrung out sponge as it begins to develop, just nicely damp but not saturated. It might sometimes be necessary to wet it as you turn it, just sprinkle the hose on it.
Also, keep a bin especially for the composting scraps in the kitchen. To this you may add any cardboard which is tearable ie. loo rolls, cereal boxes, envelopes. These are what are called 'brown', they help to absorb all the liquid that comes off the lawn mowings. We soon end up with large amounts. We do keep a couple of ponies and add their muck to the mix. My husband turns the heaps with a digger!
I add shredded newspaper to mine and if I have some finer branches or twigs when pruning I chop them into bits with secateurs first. Anything heavier would need chipping as it won't break down as quickly as the rest so I don't use those. I do leaves in a separate wire bin or black bags in Autumn for the same reason- they take longer, although you can chop them with the lawnmower first to get them going.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks all, loved reading all your tips.i was gonna to make my heap out of some old pallets as I have seen a few online and was wondering what your thoughts were about them? Also if im using tea bags should I rinse them first to get rid of any teaces of milk in them?
Artful yes. Will only attract slugs nothing else and they are good in compost heap
With compost heaps the list of no's is far smaller than the list of yesses. If it will rot fairly quickly, has no horrid chemicals in it, won't attract vermin and is not a perennial weed root chuck it in!!!!
I know someone is going to think of something I've not covered and come back at me lol!
If you cover your compost heap with an old carpet, I do occasionally in the winter months, it will keep the heat in and help with the rotting. Grass cuttings generate lots of heat but be careful if you have sprayed your lawn. Personally, I don't add sprayed clippings for about a month, I don't know that there is a rule on this. The more you can mix those clippings in with your household peelings the better. It is better not to add potato peelings, or tomato plants, or offshoots at the end of the season because of disease. I use a kitchen bin under the sink which is well over a foot high and manage to fill it in a couple of days with veg waste, nothing cooked, and ripped paper waste.
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The more frequent you are able to turn your compost heap during the summer months, the better. It should feel a bit like a wrung out sponge as it begins to develop, just nicely damp but not saturated. It might sometimes be necessary to wet it as you turn it, just sprinkle the hose on it.
Keeps us out of mischief liseals - well, it does most of the time
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Also, keep a bin especially for the composting scraps in the kitchen. To this you may add any cardboard which is tearable ie. loo rolls, cereal boxes, envelopes. These are what are called 'brown', they help to absorb all the liquid that comes off the lawn mowings. We soon end up with large amounts. We do keep a couple of ponies and add their muck to the mix. My husband turns the heaps with a digger!
I have this in the kitchen for scraps.
Has a charcoal thingy in the lid so no nasty niffs
I add shredded newspaper to mine and if I have some finer branches or twigs when pruning I chop them into bits with secateurs first. Anything heavier would need chipping as it won't break down as quickly as the rest so I don't use those. I do leaves in a separate wire bin or black bags in Autumn for the same reason- they take longer, although you can chop them with the lawnmower first to get them going.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks all, loved reading all your tips.i was gonna to make my heap out of some old pallets as I have seen a few online and was wondering what your thoughts were about them? Also if im using tea bags should I rinse them first to get rid of any teaces of milk in them?
*traces not teaces
Being a typical bloke - and having just joined the site - I had started a new thread before seeing this one.(sorry)
My question is, Can I use stale beer as an accelerant in my 3 composting tubs?
Liseals no don't bother
Artful yes. Will only attract slugs nothing else and they are good in compost heap
With compost heaps the list of no's is far smaller than the list of yesses. If it will rot fairly quickly, has no horrid chemicals in it, won't attract vermin and is not a perennial weed root chuck it in!!!!
I know someone is going to think of something I've not covered and come back at me lol!
If you cover your compost heap with an old carpet, I do occasionally in the winter months, it will keep the heat in and help with the rotting. Grass cuttings generate lots of heat but be careful if you have sprayed your lawn. Personally, I don't add sprayed clippings for about a month, I don't know that there is a rule on this. The more you can mix those clippings in with your household peelings the better. It is better not to add potato peelings, or tomato plants, or offshoots at the end of the season because of disease. I use a kitchen bin under the sink which is well over a foot high and manage to fill it in a couple of days with veg waste, nothing cooked, and ripped paper waste.