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Talkback: How to make a composting trench

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  • ThaiGerThaiGer Posts: 165

    I think you can put in botato peelings,certainly small large, cut it thin and short.On the pic also I can see some large waste, if cut smaller and thin you have faster a usable basic compost.I think so.Best organic greetings, ThhaiGer

  • Tried this 2 years ago.I suspect it was a fox kept digging it up and scattering stuff around so didn't work for me. The idea is excellent but maybe needs covering up with mesh or frame as you go.
  • Is this method of composting of any good or use to non-edible plants such as new roses or small fruit trees for planting at the correct time?
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,611

    No. It works for bean trenches, as you throw the stuff in through the winter and plant beans in may./june. If you are planting roses, or fruit trees  you need to do it in the next three months, and I would sprinkle bonemeal in the soil used to back fill the hole.

  • The badgers keep digging up my veg beds and rats have moved into the compost heap.  Any ideas to cope with this?

  • Not sure what the badgers are looking for - worms and grubs probably - not sure what you can do about that other than electric fencing which is what I would try.

    As for the rats, don't put any potatoes or potato peelings in your compost heap - my brother is a potato farmer and says that rats will gnaw through concrete to get at potatoes - their favourite food.  Also, rats like warm dry places - keep your compost damp and regularly turned and stirred to aerate it - it will disturb the rats and drive them away to look for somewhere quieter, and it  will produce better compost. 

    Good luck image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • I have never had any success in making compost but we had a neighboour who
  • I have never had any success in making compost, but we had a neighbour who had he most wonderful soil throughout her garden - she grew only flowers, no vegetables - and always used this method, so I feel inspired to try it for myself.
  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    The other deterrent for rats is to simply make them aware that you are frequently about. Hit the compost heap with a stick, walk past several times. My bins are just next to where I park the car so any rat would be often disturbed. I do 'compost master' events and all the people this summer who said that they had rats in their compost seemed to keep chickens. A couple of compost bins may be the answer, with a very sturdy metal grid underneath so necessary bugs etc. can get in but the rats can't.

  • may i know how long does it takes to become compost ya? wanted to do this as my assignment but due to time constrain afraid that it doesn't rot completely... =( 

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