Which type of compost bin is best?
Choose a compost bin to suit the amount of space you have available and the quantity of waste your garden produces. For beginners and those with a small garden, a compact plastic bin is often a good choice. Larger gardens and allotments may be able to fill a large wooden compost ‘bay’, such as those made from pallets. Whether you’re using a composting bin, or building up a garden compost pile, it is important to know how to layer your compost. Start with a base layer of twigs, mulch or old potting mix to encourage air circulation and provide drainage.Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile. Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food waste, tea bags, seaweed, etc.Get the balance right If your compost is too wet, add more ‘browns’. If it’s too dry, add some ‘greens’. Making sure there is enough air in the mixture is also important. Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy.The optimal ratio for a compost should be roughly 70% carbon (leaves, pine straw, wood chips, nut shells) and 30% nitrogen (vegetable scraps, garden weeds, coffee grounds, manures, hay.Layer the material Whether you’re using a composting bin, or building up a garden compost pile, it is important to know how to layer your compost. Start with a base layer of twigs, mulch or old potting mix to encourage air circulation and provide drainage.
Why put cardboard in compost?
Composting Saves Money and Reduces Waste Composting cardboard boxes can reduce waste disposal costs by diverting organic waste from landfills and turning it into nutrient-rich soil. Composting can attract unwanted pests and wildlife, which can create public health risks and damage property. Plus, improperly managed compost piles can emit strong odors, which can create problems for nearby residents and businesses.DON’T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON’T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON’T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.Composting can attract unwanted pests and wildlife, which can create public health risks and damage property. Plus, improperly managed compost piles can emit strong odors, which can create problems for nearby residents and businesses.Yes! Good airflow is one of the secrets to successful composting. Without it, your compost pile could turn into a stinky mess (literally).
What is the best base for a compost bin?
Your compost bin will work the best when it’s placed in a sunny spot on bare soil. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a shady spot, but it will take longer for your compost to develop. It’s best to place your bin on levelled ground where any excess water can drain away easily. In hot, dry weather, regularly adding water to a hot compost process is often a necessity. We recommend a minimum moisture content of 50% to support a hot compost process. A hot compost pile can easily lose 1% of moisture content every day.Provide air and water. A compost pile functions best when the materials are as damp as a wrung-out sponge and have many air passages. Extremes of sun or rain can adversely affect the balance of air and moisture in your pile.You may be surprised to learn that your compost pile needs just as much water as your live plants. Dry compost doesn’t work. There are several ways to ensure your compost is getting the adequate amount of water needed to do its job.Composting works in sun or shade Piles in sunny spots will decompose quicker but also dry out faster and may need supplemental watering during hot dry weather.