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Reviving a failed compost heap
Pead my plants
Posts: 6
Hi all,
I've had a compost bin for almost 2 years now and I've just thrown stuff in and hoped for the best. Obviously this was the wrong thing to do because although it did reduce down, I haven't really got any usable compost in it - after 2 years!
I've realised that kitchen waste and grass cuttings were by far the most prominent materials and so now I'm adding lots and lots of shredded paper to try and dry it out and add more carbon. I turn it weekly and the paper does seem to be decomposing in it, but I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time...
My question is - since I've had all this organic matter in the bin for so long, will it have essentially "died" making adding more carbon pointless? Should I dispose of it somehow and start again?
Thanks.
0
Posts
Hi
I wouldn't throw away what you've got, but as you add shredded paper etc stir it in to mix it well and get air into it - then see if you can get some used pet bedding from someone with pet rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, goats or ponies etc. Add some of that and stir it around - that'll put some life into it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for the speedy response Dovefromabove! Good to know that I don't need to start again - I'll continue to add more brown material and will get some pet bedding and see how I get on.
You say you turn it often so it should be alive, put you hand in the centre and feel for heat if none then turn the lot out onto a plastic sheet and start again, it will be partly composted so start adding cardboard straw any thing that will bulk it out. I start with some brushwood in the bottom to let the air in and build up make sure you have thin layers of grass cuttings well spread. as you build up add some man juice, you can fill a plastic milk jug in the garage with the door closed when you feel the need to go and then sprinkle it with some water on the heap as you fill, not wet not dry damp is what is needed. Lady juice does not work for some reason so it is do it yourself. It is winter and you need heat does it get any sun? my heaps are next to a brick wall they get sun which heats the wall then feeds the heat back, position is essential, a cold damp draughty corner no good, I get compost after six months in winter and three months in summer. Do you have air holes, is it covered, for mine the answer is yes Air, Heat, Some damping as you go, a good mixture of material, and regular turning will give you top class compost, it is a bit of an art, as with all gardening some effort must be put into it.
Frank
I think 'lady juice' is perfectly adequate - it's just more diffucult to apply!
Not-quite-rotted compost, or indeed unrotted stuff can go into the runner bean trench in June. And you can use fresh grass cuttings (along with plenty of well-rotted compost or manure) when planting potatoes as well - it creates acidic conditions that prevent scab. Not too much though or the spuds will get cooked.
I never bother with a jug - just apply directly from source.
That depends on how high the heap is, Steve.
It does these days
I now have visions of Steve strutting down the garden with his step ladders calling out
" I'm just off to the compost bins dear"
how about taking it out, mixing it up, adding compost accelerator every 30cm of depth (or whatever it says on the packet), keep adding in layers and water each layer.
Would that work, or are these accelerators a no no? I've been using it and have had 3 bins worth so far in 2 years.