Homemade compost is invaluable in the garden – it’s a great soil improver, mulch and growing medium. Compost heaps also provide homes for wildlife, for anything from bumblebees to hedgehogs, slow worms and even hibernating green shield bugs.
To make good compost, you need a 50:50 mix of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon. Nitrogen comes from lush, green material such as grass clippings. Carbon comes from brown material, such as woody stems and cardboard.
For every bucket load of green material, you need to add the same volume of brown. Shred woody stems before adding them so that they break down more easily. Scrumple paper and leave egg boxes or loo rolls intact – these help to keep the compost aerated.
Most compost bins have too much nitrogen, especially if the main source is from grass cuttings – the result is smelly sludge. If you have too much carbon in your bin, the composting process will be very slow.
Watch Monty Don explain how he makes the perfect compost at Longmeadow:
More on making compost:
Here are three steps to creating great compost.
You Will Need
- A sunny corner of the garden
- An equal mix of nitrogen and carbon rich waste
- Compost bin
Step 1
Stand your compost bin directly on the soil – worms and other micro-organisms will speed up the composting process. Chicken wire at the base will keep rodents out. Add an equal mix of green and brown materials.
Step 2
Speed up the process by turning your heap occasionally with a garden fork to aerate it, mixing the outside ingredients to the inside. Cover your bin to keep the rain out.
Watch Monty explain how he turns compost, in this Gardeners’ World clip:
Step 3
When the mixture turns brown and crumbly and slightly sweet smelling, the process is complete. This will take around six months if the heap has been turned regularly, but can take much longer.
Unsure which type of compost bin to use? David Hurrion explains all, in our No Fuss Guide:
Kate Bradbury says
Compost heaps are so beneficial to wildlife that you risk disturbing some creature or other whenever you turn or move it. Anything from bumblebees to hedgehogs can be found nesting and hibernating in the heap, so the ideal time to move or turn it is in April. At this time, most species will have emerged from hibernation but not yet started nesting.
What to add to your compost bin – and what to leave out
Nitrogen-rich waste (green):
- Grass clippings
- Annual weeds
- Fruit and veg peelings
- Nettle leaves
- Teabags
Carbon-rich waste (brown):
- Prunings
- Hedgetrimmings
- Paper or newspaper (loosely scrunched up is best)
- Cardboard
- Straw
- Sawdust
- Pet bedding
- Paper towels
- Paper bags
Also add:
- Eggshells, natural fibres (wool or cotton), wood ash (not too much)
Don’t add:
- Diseased plants
- Perennial weeds
- Cooked food
- Citrus (slow to rot and very acidic, which reduces worm activity)
- Raw meat
- Dairy products
- Gloss or colour-printed paper
- Ash from coal fires
- Cat or dog faeces
- Autumn leaves – these are best used to make leaf mould
Can I compost fallen apples?
Fallen apples can be a welcome addition to your compost heap. But should you compost all of them? Kate Bradbury, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, explains, in our Quick Tips video.
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