Your compost bins are better sited out of the sun.
The compost heats up enough with the bacterial action going on and if in full sun temperatures can rise and fall quite dramatically which can slow down or kill off your lovely bacteria/worms etc. Best in semi or complete shade. Adding grass will speed things up if the heap gets too cold.
Personally I prefer working with the slatted bins (at least two of) Ease of access being the main reason and ease of filling too. I find the daleks ok for a few leaves, twigs, cut back stems etc. but when you have a large garden you are talking wheelbarrow loads of compostable stuff rather than the odd trug full and an open fronted or removeable fronted compost bin is far more practical.
Ah now I understand. So where I'm thinking of them going might be best after all as there should be reasonable shelter rather than full sun all day.
The open front design is sounding very appealing - especially since I have a badly damaged back that doesn't appreciate lifting / moving / breathing which would make emptying a bin a bit of a faff.
Do people prefer their bins to have lids? Or is open topped the way to go?
I just chuck a piece of natural carpet on the top. Stops stuff blowing away, helps keep it hot and easy to leave off if you want some rain on the heap. Rots down eventually too so get another piece every 2/3 years.
Gardening for a living means I like things that are as quick and easy as possible lol.
I have two of the Green Fingers bins - absolutely no problems with GF - I've had several things from them, reasonable quality for the price, good delivery etc.
BUT I wish I'd ordered the removable front type - ever since I hurt my back I have to get OH to fork the compost out into a barrow - if I could remove the fronts I could do it myself
I agree, shade or semi shade - they heat up through bacterial action/decompostion not sunshine
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Clarrington, the bin you gave the link for; I can't see how you would get the compost out without dis-assembling it. The link from Clueless seemed a better design for emptying.
As regards position, it's best for the compost to be protected somewaht from icy winter winds. My Daleks are protected pretty much on 3 sides, but get part sun.
Thanks all I've just found out our council offers by one get one half price on the Daleks so we're still undecided as to what to have. We might go for Daleks now for cheapness and replace them in a few years time.
Who knew even the simple things in gardening could be so hard to choose!!
Posts
how about this one
http://www.primrose.co.uk/easyload-wooden-compost-small-litres-p-7528.html?src=cat_box
James
Your compost bins are better sited out of the sun.
The compost heats up enough with the bacterial action going on and if in full sun temperatures can rise and fall quite dramatically which can slow down or kill off your lovely bacteria/worms etc. Best in semi or complete shade. Adding grass will speed things up if the heap gets too cold.
Personally I prefer working with the slatted bins (at least two of) Ease of access being the main reason and ease of filling too. I find the daleks ok for a few leaves, twigs, cut back stems etc. but when you have a large garden you are talking wheelbarrow loads of compostable stuff rather than the odd trug full and an open fronted or removeable fronted compost bin is far more practical.
Ah now I understand. So where I'm thinking of them going might be best after all as there should be reasonable shelter rather than full sun all day.
The open front design is sounding very appealing - especially since I have a badly damaged back that doesn't appreciate lifting / moving / breathing which would make emptying a bin a bit of a faff.
Do people prefer their bins to have lids? Or is open topped the way to go?
I just chuck a piece of natural carpet on the top. Stops stuff blowing away, helps keep it hot and easy to leave off if you want some rain on the heap. Rots down eventually too so get another piece every 2/3 years.
Gardening for a living means I like things that are as quick and easy as possible lol.
I have two of the Green Fingers bins - absolutely no problems with GF - I've had several things from them, reasonable quality for the price, good delivery etc.
BUT I wish I'd ordered the removable front type - ever since I hurt my back I have to get OH to fork the compost out into a barrow - if I could remove the fronts I could do it myself
I agree, shade or semi shade - they heat up through bacterial action/decompostion not sunshine
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Clarrington, the bin you gave the link for; I can't see how you would get the compost out without dis-assembling it. The link from Clueless seemed a better design for emptying.
As regards position, it's best for the compost to be protected somewaht from icy winter winds. My Daleks are protected pretty much on 3 sides, but get part sun.
Thanks all
I've just found out our council offers by one get one half price on the Daleks so we're still undecided as to what to have. We might go for Daleks now for cheapness and replace them in a few years time.
Who knew even the simple things in gardening could be so hard to choose!!