Yes, just make a pile, the bigger the better, that way it gets hotter. I use bins because my garden is modest, and they look tidier. My late mother had a huge compost pile, that sat for years, and was the most beautiful orange brown compost. Perhaps the cheapest way to create a neat pile is with some poles hammered into the ground, and chicken wire sides. Fix one side with ties so it can be opened when 'cooked'.
If you have a lot of woody waste (tree/shrub/hedge prunings etc) then it's a good idea to pile these separately to rot down slowly. It does take a while, but the pile(s) will compact and sink over time and you can just add newer stuff on top. In the meantime it provides a very good habitat for a great deal of wildlife such as hedgehogs, insects, spiders and birds such as wrens.
I've taken on board suggestions for a bigger compost heap. I managed to source some free wooden pallets from my local garden centre and have created a couple of compost "bays"
Have yet to add a front to stop the compost spilling out. They look plenty big anough I think - have also be mulching the crass as I cut - and that has cut down the waste considerably. Thanks for everyones suggestions I feel like I;m getting somewhere!
Lots of good advice , composting is definaetly the key
however , while you get on top of things perhaps taking stuff to the tip is a good idea , worried you might have to much compost
enjoy your gardening , there another site on hear called " done any gardening today " in which you joy in with , perhaps some more pictures as the garden develops
With a plot that size and overgrown I suspect you will have a few more trips to the recycling centre before you can implement an effective composting system. Even shredded I think you will have far more material than you can cope with initially.
Could any of your neighbours make use of shredded material for their own compost heaps?
Mike , not seen you posts lately , hope you are keeping well
Agree about digging , on the other half of my allottment , brother in law did the main digging then I dug it again before winter and have been digging each bed again before planting , it has worked well for me and reduced the weeds down to a manageable problem
however I have shredded waste paths which I have used weed killer on , nearly organic
Posts
Yes, just make a pile, the bigger the better, that way it gets hotter. I use bins because my garden is modest, and they look tidier. My late mother had a huge compost pile, that sat for years, and was the most beautiful orange brown compost. Perhaps the cheapest way to create a neat pile is with some poles hammered into the ground, and chicken wire sides. Fix one side with ties so it can be opened when 'cooked'.
If you have a lot of woody waste (tree/shrub/hedge prunings etc) then it's a good idea to pile these separately to rot down slowly. It does take a while, but the pile(s) will compact and sink over time and you can just add newer stuff on top. In the meantime it provides a very good habitat for a great deal of wildlife such as hedgehogs, insects, spiders and birds such as wrens.
I've taken on board suggestions for a bigger compost heap. I managed to source some free wooden pallets from my local garden centre and have created a couple of compost "bays"
Have yet to add a front to stop the compost spilling out. They look plenty big anough I think - have also be mulching the crass as I cut - and that has cut down the waste considerably. Thanks for everyones suggestions I feel like I;m getting somewhere!
Lots of good advice , composting is definaetly the key
however , while you get on top of things perhaps taking stuff to the tip is a good idea , worried you might have to much compost
enjoy your gardening , there another site on hear called " done any gardening today " in which you joy in with , perhaps some more pictures as the garden develops
With a plot that size and overgrown I suspect you will have a few more trips to the recycling centre before you can implement an effective composting system. Even shredded I think you will have far more material than you can cope with initially.
Could any of your neighbours make use of shredded material for their own compost heaps?
Mike , not seen you posts lately , hope you are keeping well
Agree about digging , on the other half of my allottment , brother in law did the main digging then I dug it again before winter and have been digging each bed again before planting , it has worked well for me and reduced the weeds down to a manageable problem
however I have shredded waste paths which I have used weed killer on , nearly organic