Learn about the environmental benefits and practical aspects of composting in this tutorial. Explore how to start home composting with the right equipment and placement tips. Get a comprehensive guide on creating the perfect compost heap with key ingredients, ratios, and harvest timings.
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Quick takeaways
Setting up at least two compost bins is essential to maintain proper decomposition and avoid drying out.
Maintaining a compost heap involves keeping it moist, ensuring proper air circulation, and avoiding common mistakes like adding only lawn clippings or wrong kitchen waste.
Deep dives
Benefits of Composting
Composting offers several benefits, including enriching the soil, being applicable even in small gardens, and being a cost-effective solution. It enhances the quality of soil and can be done in containers of any size. Moreover, it is a free and natural process.
Getting Started with Composting
Setting up a composting bin is essential. Using a container helps to maintain the compost and prevent it from drying out. It is recommended to have at least two bins, with one being filled while the other one is rotting or being emptied. Different materials, including green waste and brown waste, should be added in the right ratio to ensure proper decomposition.
Maintaining and Using Compost
To maintain a compost heap, it should be kept moist but not overly wet. Air circulation is important, but the heap should not have large gaps that lead to drying. Mist the compost with water when necessary, and covering the top layer with a carpet helps retain moisture. Common mistakes to avoid include adding only lawn clippings, putting long twigs or branches that haven't been shredded, and including the wrong kitchen waste, which may attract rodents. Compost is typically ready to use when it is brown, smells organic, and can be scraped off easily.
Alan shares his down-to-earth guide to making compost, turning garden waste into soil-enriching goodness the easy way. Discover the steps that count and don’t waste your waste, in this week’s Tea-Break Tutorial podcast – bite-sized solutions to your gardening questions