When we moved into our home 3 years ago, we built a 3 bay compost bin and have slowly built up each bay with garden and kitchen refuse and shredded paper. Have just spent the last few days digging out the 1st bay which is full of fantastic three year old compost. This is being spread over all the borders and veg beds.

Compost

Reply from Marissa Zoppellini

Hi Wendy, It's almost magical, isn't it? I was so excited the first time I did that too. I love the whole circle of life thing, adding nutrients back to the garden with no carbon footprint either. Many people think there is lots to know about composting but even if you just throw things in with no regard, you will still get compost eventually, it's nature at work. I got the result of my first attempt at leaf mould this year and that is even easier! All the best, Marissa

Compost

Reply from Georgie

Well done Wendy. Making compost is so satisfying isn't it? I only have room for one bin in my garden but it provides enough for my needs. And like Melissa says, don't forget the leaf mould. I just fill black sacks with wet deciduous leaves and then leave them for a year or so behind the shed. Easy peasy!

Georgie

Compost

Reply from Wendy

Thanks girls - I've got leafmould cages on the go - fantastic!

Compost

Reply from Joanne 9919

I've been composting for a couple of years now.

I've read so many things about people having problems with runny, mushy or smelly compost, but I haven't had any problems at all. I haven't done anything special either. I just make sure that I don't put all the grass cuttings in in one go, and add my veg peelings and paper and it turns out lovely and crumbly and not smelly in the least.

Jo.

compost advice

Reply from liz hankins

Could one of you experienced composters tell me what is best to place the compost bin on? I have heard it is best straight onto the ground so worms etc can get in but the what about rats nesting in it?

I have a large garden but am end of terrace and don't want to cause my neighbours any worry about rodents!

Thanks - Liz

Compost advice

Reply from Wendy

Hi Liz, I have had no problems with putting the bin straight onto the ground. Try sprinkling Garrota onto dampened fresh compost - this may deter rats as it helps speed up the decomposition.

Good luck.
Wendy

Compost advice

Reply from Georgie

Hi Liz

Never put anything cooked (even veg) in your compost nor any meat, fish or dairy products. And if you keep you compost well mixed and not too dry then rodents are unlikely to be attracted to it. Hope this helps.

Georgie

Compost Bin

Reply from Joanne 9919

Hi Liz,

I have one of the black 'darlek' type bins. The one I bought comes with a bottom to it. The bottom is full of small holes, and it obviously allows worms to get in to the bin as my compost is always full of worms, but it obviously prevents any unwelcome visitors.

Jo.

Composting advice

Reply from liz hankins

Thank you so much all of you! I knew about not putting in cooked food and am veggie so won't be putting in meat anyway- but didn't know about dairy.That doesn't include boiled egg shells does it?

Another question....I was wondering whether you find the plastic "dalek" type bin difficult to turn the compost in? The opening at the bottoms of those always looks so small. I used to help in an organic garden project in London and they had built wooden boxes for compost and just turned it all out onto a sheet to turn it.

Is the anti-rodent product you mention organic? I don't want chemicals in my compost.

Can't wait to start!
Liz

Emptying a Dalek

Reply from Joanne 9919

Hi Liz,

Yes, you can add egg shells to the compost.

The compost does come out quite easily from the small opening at the bottom of the bin. To demonstrate this you can take a look at Georgie's blog (hope you don't mind Georgie) where her latest post is about composting:-
http://littlelondongarden.blogspot.com/

Jo.

Of course I don't mind...

Reply from Georgie

...all publicity is good publicity as the old adage goes, Jo. :D

Liz, I agree with Jo that egg shells are fine (but they take years to break down). As for turning the compost, yes, it's not that easy but I manage it okay from the top with the lid off and using a garden fork. That said I've seen a 'compost aerator' advertised which looks tempting. It's basically a long handled metal rod with two hinged prongs. As you drive it into the compost the prongs are closed but as you lift it they open out. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this very well but I'd be interested to know if anyone has used one and how they rate it.

Georgie

Composting advice

Reply from liz hankins

Hi Georgie & Jo

Thank you for your help again. I have tried the snail deterrent broken egg shell thing around plants and it didn't work for me...not sure if I dried them out first so maybe that's where I went wrong...but yes, I have also heard of the aerator and since I am yet to buy my compost bin maybe I'll enquire.
It seems wrong to me to spend much on composting though- I like the feel of recycling and the circle of life - and all for free! I had planed to build my own wooden compost bins but I've got two fences to mend and my wild flowers to plant (my next questions will be about that!) and I'm opting for the quick solution now.

I've looked at your blog Georgie- its wonderful! I don't know how you find time but I'm glad you do! Its good of you to share your knowledge. I am limited to gardening in the evenings after work, so it'll be years before I know as much as you

Liz

Circle of life

Reply from Georgie

Hi Liz

You are clearly a woman after my own heart. I went chemical free/gardening for wildlife a few years ago and it's amazing how quickly the garden gets the right eco balance. I prefer to leave things to nature and only dispose of things that are troublesome with no natural predators such as Lily Beetles, slugs and snails if they get out of hand and aphids if they are seriously threatening my my crops. Eggshells don't work for me either, nor do copper tape or coffee grounds. In my experience beer traps and picking them off at dusk are by far the most effective methods if you have an infestation.

Thanks for your kind comments about my blog. It doesn't take very long really and I'm hoping it'll be useful to look back on as a garden record to see what does well, what doesn't work and to compare flowering times etc. Oh and by the way I'm quite new to gardening but by joining sites like this you can pick up things up really quickly. :)

Georgie

Re: Rating compost turners

Reply from Carol

Hi, I haven't used one like you describe, but we have one like a giant corkscrew (well a spiral of metal wire - very stiff) that you screw down into the compost as far as you can and then lift to pull the stuff from the bottom up to the top. We use that in our three green dalek bins and the batch wormery. And we have a three layer can o worms wormery that does most of the vegetable scraps from the kitchen and some cardboard.

Composting advice

Reply from Wendy

Hi Liz
The composting product is called Garotta by Arthur Bowes but don't know if its organic. I put egg shells in my compost as well however, another use for them is to collect uncooked egg shells in a box then when they've dried out, crunch them into tiny bits and sprinkle them round plants as an anti-slug/snail deterant. They don't like crawling over the sharp shell fragments. I also put used tea bags onto the compost heap.

Good luck. Wendy

Composting advice

Reply from liz hankins

Thanks Wendy. I will get Garotta if its organic. See my comment above about egg shells- I will dry them out and try again- and the beer trap too- anything is better than losing to our little slimey friends (2 large organic Courgette plants last year).

Is it OK to position my compost bin in shade amidst trees? I want to hide it out of sight but am wondering whether it will be too cool and damp?

Liz

slugs in my compost

Reply from liz hankins

Its me again- I now have a dalek style compost bin too and placed it on the ground under some trees where it gets sun late afternoon for a few hours.

My garden is plagued with slugs who have devoured everything I plant (I'll save that for another post!) and there are HUGE slugs in my compost bin. I know worms are good but won't slugs just eat all the rotting veg etc and ruin my compost?

I find it very hard to turn the compost too- leaning into the top with a fork. Especially with so many slugs clinging to the sides to avoid!

Liz

Nothing to worry about

Reply from Georgie

Hi Liz

Those huge slugs in your compost bin will be helping with the composting process and are nothing to worry about you'll be pleased to hear.

If you cannot turn the compost then the best thing to do is to add materials in layers, roughly 2:1 brown:green materials up to the top of the bin and leave it be. It will compost down in time.

There's lots more about this on various websites but I would recommend Garden Organic.

Georgie

slugs and compost

Reply from liz hankins

Thanks Georgie
I've just watched the Garden Organic video on composting-very useful. I definitely need to add more browns as have flies in my bin too.

Yes it us a relief to hear that slugs are OK although I shall have to be careful not to put them on my garden with the compost!
My garden is over run with slugs- maybe because its got a lot of trees around the edges and clay soil so is damp. Perhaps the compost bin will become a big slug trap like a massive grapefruit!

Liz

Slugs get a bad press

Reply from Georgie

Hi Liz

Lots of people view slugs as a menace in the garden when in fact some of them eat other slugs and some (as you have found) help with the composting process. The worst ones are the keeled slugs which live underground and eat our tender crops. But don't get me started on snails!

I wouldn't worrry about putting the slugs from your compost bin on the garden - they'll have long since gone.

Georgie

Slug eggs in compost?

Reply from liz hankins

Hi Georgie
I have been thinking about the slugs in my compost bin and am still wondering why its not a problem- surely their eggs will be all through the compost even if the adults have gone?
Its just that I have SO MANY! And they are those huge orange ones too....
Liz

Slug eggs in compost?

Reply from Georgie

Hi Liz

I am neither a botanist nor a biologist but I will try once again to reassure you with logic. The slugs in your compost will be the ones that prefer to eat decaying matter as opposed to tender young plants. It follows that their offspring (the eggs) will prefer a similar diet. Does that help?

Georgie

slug eggs in compost

Reply from liz hankins

Hi Georgie
OK! You've set my mind at rest - I look forward to using my first compost sometime next spring then!
Liz

( I wonder what the slugs in my compost were eating before my bin arrived then...)

What they were eating before

Reply from Georgie

LOL Liz you are a worrier! :D If you go in the garden after it's rained you often see the big orange slugs around and if you look closely they are eating old and decaying stuff lying around the garden. Try dropping a fresh leaf of something in their path and my guess is that they will ignore it in favour of their preferred diet.

Georgie