Composting - when you
haven’t a lot of space
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Composting takes up a lot of room and if your garden is too out so that more material can be added. So frequent turning
small to lose a big corner for it, not to worry – you can still makes sense – and the use of a proprietary liquid accelerator.
make your own compost by using a compost bin.
Compost bins sold in the UK do not have a base. To stop vermin
These plastic bins can be moved around the garden and take from creeping inside to feed on your waste garden material and
up less space than the traditional wooden slatted compost bin particularly vegetable waste, put netting down on the ground
or heap piled up haphazardly. All your vegetable waste and before placing the bin on top of it. Commercially produced base
grass clippings can be tidied away neatly. plates are also available for the purpose.
Plastic compost bins are not new but they have proved their A rodent-proof metal rotary compost bin has been introduced
worth over the years, especially for smaller gardens. They come into the UK from Sweden. It comes in various sizes, right down
in all sizes, large for those who have the room, right down to to one that is used by Swedish people living in apartments.
220 litre types. Sturdy, built to last, many are manufactured
It takes meat and fish waste, cardboard such as egg cartons,
from recycled materials as well, making them even more
and pet bedding as well as the ordinary kitchen waste. So it
environmentally-friendly.
cuts down on the amount generally put out in the household
refuse collection.
Well insulated to produce the required heat even in a freezingly
cold Scandinavian winter, it has two compartments, and as one
becomes compost the other takes the daily waste materials.
Whatever type of compost bin you choose, make sure that
it has a balance of organic waste, from vegetable peelings
to newspaper and cardboard. You will see if material is not
breaking down quickly enough, and you may have to
adjust how much cardboard you add, for instance.
A variety of designs are on the market for compost bins and they don’t
take up a lot of space. You can even buy a new ‘see –through’ bin. Or
putting some wire around a small area gives an instant home made
and effective bin.
Four steps to perfect compost
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The bins have several advantages over traditional composting combine soft, green, nitrogen-rich material and dry, brown,
methods, keeping the necessary warmth in to speed up the
carbon-rich material in even quantities. The main rule is not to
process, and the amount of moisture needed can be controlled
let one material dominate the heap. A glut of autumn leaves
more easily. Moisture contained in a bin will reach right to the
will decompose very slowly
sides, thus helping the process along. And wildlife will be less
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likely to get into a compost bin than a heap – bees and wasps
or bin is full, it will start to heat up as the decomposition
process gets underway. After a couple of weeks, turn the heap
sometimes make their nests in compost heaps.
with a fork, mixing up the contents and adding water if it is
Small amounts will decompose far more rapidly. Compost needs drying out. If turned regularly your compost will be ready in
to be turned periodically so that it breaks down more quickly. If
about 2-4 months.
you choose the upright type with a lid, you will have to turn it s!HEAPLEFTUNATTENDEDANDUSINGBULKIERUNSHREDDED
with a fork or use a tool especially sold for the purpose.
material may take over a year to decompose. When the
compost is finished, the pile will be about half its original size
You might prefer the tumbler type of compost bin, which sits
and have an earthy smell to it.
on a rotating frame. There is even a type resembling a large
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beach ball that you can literally roll around the garden.
adding nitrogen, moisture and turning the heap regularly to
The smaller the bin the quicker you need to get the compost improve the air circulation.
Effective back pain relief for gardeners
01422 839 493 www.hotties.co.uk
Country Gardener
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