Composting is a great way to reduce landfill waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your allotment. Composting has been around for as long as humans have had gardens, but it’s not always easy to figure out how to do it. This ultimate guide will provide you with the information you need in order to start composting successfully!
What is Composting?
Composting is the process of breaking down organic material into fertiliser, and it’s a natural process that occurs on its own in nature. When you compost, microorganisms decompose the waste to create rich soil for plants or other food crops.
What Can You Compost?
When composting, it is important to know what you can and cannot compost. Some items are not viable in composting, whilst others help the compost to thrive, especially if the balance of waste is carefully managed.
You might want to start with something simple like vegetable peelings, coffee grounds or eggshells. All of these items will break down and provide your allotment with the necessary nutrients for growth. A great way to get started is by collecting organic materials from the kitchen such as food scraps, paper towel rolls (cut in half) and old newspaper piles.
Leaves should only stay on a pile for about one week before they’re fully decomposed.
- If you have too many browns but don’t have enough greens: add more green matter until you reach the required ratio
- Too much moisture? Let it dry out some first then mix
What Can’t You Compost?
It’s important to understand that you can’t compost foods such as meat, dairy and eggs. This is because these types of food will attract pests such as rats and mice which can carry diseases. The best thing to do with these items would be to place them in proper bins for disposal
– Other things you can’t compost include nappies, plastic bags, hair products (hair gel / conditioner), or dish soap bottles etc…
– You also need to avoid putting NON ORGANIC materials into your pile. These are mainly plastics like milk jugs that have been used for drinks or yoghurt pots from supermarkets.
Some people may think it’s a good idea to mix non-organic materials into the pile but this makes challenges even more difficult when trying to create compost – so we say don’t do it!
Composting can be done with some basic materials like grass cuttings, leaves, coffee grounds (no filters), tea bags and fruit scraps – just make sure they’re not chemically treated! If you have large quantities of garden waste, instead of hauling them out to the curb for the weekly collection, utilising them for the compost might be an easier way to go as well.
Setting Up Your Compost Bin
– Pick an area where there is good drainage
– Make sure that the area is a reasonable size – if you have lots of room, then the bigger the better
– You want to place it in an area that can get up to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) without your plants being harmed. This means that shade and swampy areas are not suitable for composting
– Use wire mesh or chicken wire fencing material as this will allow good ventilation while keeping all of the organic waste contained (you may also line with landscape fabric)
– Build it at least three feet high so air circulation under the pile won’t be blocked by soil on top; otherwise moisture levels might stagnate causing smell issues. The sides should slope down from back to front which will help prevent silt build up around the area. You can also build sloping sides by using bricks or concrete blocks.
– The materials used in your pile can be any combination of “browns” and “greens.” Browns are carbon-based organic materials such as dry leaves, straw, sawdust and greens are high nitrogen wastes like fruit peelings or fresh lawn clippings.
Managing Your Compost
– Turn over at least once per week with a pitchfork to mix everything together
– Water weekly if not more often when soil is moist – too much water will cause anaerobic conditions that will harm your plant roots!
When you feel it’s time to harvest from the bin:
– Remove what’s left up brown matter (usually this would be just the section that is at the bottom of the pile)
– Add greens (lawn clippings, fresh fruit and vegetables)
– Mix it all together to create a new layer on top. Keep adding layers until you’re satisfied with your results.
If starting your compost is too daunting for now:
– Compost can be as simple as placing leaves in a bag or container – remember that oxygen should still reach the brown matter! Important: make sure not to use plastic bags because they don’t allow airflow. Tip: store this compost outside during the winter months so it doesn’t rot while frozen.
Pests
When composting, you need to be aware that it can attract unwanted attention from pests and vermin such as rats, mice and cockroaches.
To help avoid this, you can:
– Keep your compost bin covered with a lid or screen to keep out unwanted guests
– Place the bin in an area that is off-limits for children and pets
– Use wire fencing around the edges of your pile so animals can’t get inside
If vermin do get access to your compost, it’s imperative to tackle this sooner rather than later because once the problem becomes out of control, it is difficult to get rid of.
Traps or deterrents such as sticky tape or woody materials discourage nesting and food sources.
Some people believe that turning over layers in an attempt to improve decomposition may disturb existing colonies of rodents.
Troubleshooting Tips:
If you notice it’s not decomposing properly (what should be on top of the pile may still have visible food matter) check these things first before getting frustrated!
Maybe there are very few greens? Add more green material and mix everything together. The brown stuff might need time to break down. Give this some time but make sure there’s enough air circulation.