How To Compost (Composting in general)

Member Name: debmercury

Product:	Composting in general
Date:	08/05/08 (200 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free And Easy To Do

Disadvantages: You Have To Get The Mix Right

How to Compost

Anyone can compost, it's very easy and helps the environment. Tonnes of garden and kitchen waste are thrown away every year when it could be composted.

You can buy lots of different compost bins, mine is a plastic one with a lid and a hole at the bottom with a sliding cover to get your compost out. It is a good idea to have a smaller caddy in your kitchen, so you don't have to keep going to the garden one. Compost bins come in all shapes and sizes so if you only have a small space you could get a smaller one.

Making your own compost is a bit like making a recipe for good results you have to get the mix right. Add different types of materials in layers, with not to much of any single material in a layer. A good mix of waste aids decomposition.

I have a small bin under my kitchen sink which I fill up with teabags, vegetable and fruit peelings, eggshells, bits of paper and soft cardboard. When this gets full it goes into my big compost bin.

To my big compost bin I also add grass cuttings, evergreen clippings, leaves, straw, hay and newspaper.

Regularly turning the material in your compost bin will ensure more air gets to the bin and speeds up decomposition.

Don't let your compost dry out, if it gets dry in summer you can add water to your compost.

Don't put cooked food or meat in your compost bin as this can attract vermin and make your compost smelly.

Don't add to many grass cuttings as this will make the compost smelly and slimy. A good tip is when you are adding grass cuttings add in the same amount of straw, cardboard and paper.

Compost usually takes 6-9 months until its ready. It turns a nice dark colour, smells sweet and earthy and texture should be fairly fine with most of the bigger bits decomposed.

I use my compost all around the garden spreading a layer on flower beds, adding to pots and containers, on fruit and vegetables. You can use your compost as a mulch all around the garden. Even if you only have a small garden or just pots you can add your compost to enrich the soil.

Compost is excellent for improving soil and providing vital nutrients for your plants. Home made compost is much better than shop bought compost and it's free.

Composting is very easy and it would be great for our environment if more people composted.

Summary: How To Compost