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Gardeners World blog

Allotments

Compost

Posted by: Jane Moore, 18 January 2008, 11.29AM

Compost We're having a grim January, with rain, rain and more rain and the plot is something of a quagmire. And what did I tell you about my plans to do masses of hard labour up on the plot? You might not be surprised to hear they've come to nought.

So this week I'm improving my soil with home-made compost. This seems a good use of my time as I can stop instantly and pack up as soon as a passing shower turns into steady rain (I'm not a wuss really - I get wet enough at work but I get paid for those soakings). Our compost isn't brilliant as it's still a bit new but some at the bottom is well rotted and OK to use.

My soil is quite sodden at the moment. It's not a good idea to work compost into the soil when it's in that condition, as it can destroy the soil structure. So instead, I'm settling for the simple job of spreading a good few dollops of compost onto the surface of my beds. I'll cover them with polythene to keep the nutrients in, warm the soil and get all those microbes and soil dwellers moving so they can incorporate the compost for me. It should be lovely by the spring.

Comments

  • compost

    12 January 2008, 11.13PM

    By regularly turning my compost heep and mixing in some soil and paper shreddings I've found the compost heap rots down very quickly. I do this by having a long trench and only filling one end of it then I transfer the contents to the other end of the trench.

    During the Spring, Summer and Autumn I do this fortnightly.Also during dryer weather I water the heap and cover with old compost bags to keep the moisture in the heap.

  • Joy Smith

    21 January 2008, 07.00PM

    My husband insists in digging in teabags/old tomatoes/old cucumber into the soil. Is this doing any good to the soil?

  • morning glory

    22 January 2008, 11.59PM

    I have a laurel hedge which generates a lot of leaf trimmings which I have shredded. Can I compost these or are they poisonous. I want to use the compost as a mulch for the rest of the garden. I have an acid soil. Can anyone help please?

  • chris, carshalton

    23 January 2008, 03.18PM

    Joy and Morning Glory: Any organic matter, that does not attract pests and make them dig it up, can be added. Harder pieces (prunings) take longer (years if the wood is over a centimetre thick). The rotting process depletes available Nitrogen until rotting is complete when the bacteria and fungi (the rotters) die and yield the Nitrogen back to the soil. Laurel is only temporarily poisonous. Dry, it is great for starting a bonfire due to the waxy leaves I think.

  • morning glory

    29 January 2008, 10.00PM

    Thanks to Chris, carshalton for your tips on composting the laurel trimmings. I will compost it first before putting it on the flower beds. Mixing in grass cuttings etc should minimise any poisonous concentration with any luck.

  • David

    16 April 2008, 03.04PM

    I've bought one of these small plastic compost bins. I have a very small garden - new to us - and just want to have some compost on hand to help lighten the soil. I've placed it in the corner of the garden and want to get started so that with luck by this time next year I should have some compost going! I'm saving kitchen waste - uncooked - in a plastic bag in the kitchen with a view to starting - help!!!

  • Craig

    19 April 2008, 04.34AM

    Hi David, Drop your kitchen waste into the bin along with any garden waste like grass cuttings. Throw in some ripped up cardboard and (non-glossy) paper to add carbon and let nature take its course. I throw coffee grounds into mine, which help heat up the waste and compost it down quicker.

  • Kathryn Higgins

    19 April 2008, 01.38PM

    We add the straw/sawdust from our rabbit and hamster cages in our composter and it makes for lovely compost!

  • Kathryn Higgins

    19 April 2008, 01.38PM

    We add the straw/sawdust from our rabbit and hamster cages in our composter and it makes for lovely compost!

  • sammy

    21 April 2008, 03.12PM

    can i use my home made compost for seedlings, it is not very fine?

  • Hawkmoon

    28 April 2008, 08.17PM

    I tear open my used tea bags pour out the leaves and throw away the paper bag as I find it doesn't rot down very well in my heap. I also use the cardboard from loo/kitchen towel rolls as this breaks down lovely but I do wet them first before putting them into the heap.

  • chris

    06 May 2008, 02.51AM

    What is the best way to stop flies becoming a problem in compost heaps.

  • caron

    06 May 2008, 06.36PM

    I got a greenhouse for my birthday in April, and have been buzzing since. I've planted sweetpeas in cardboard egg boxes which have flourished but the seeds I put into toilet rolls have been very disappointing. I thought I was doing my bit for recycling. Where have I gone wrong with the toilet rolls? Any ideas or should I just forget them and stick to egg boxes?

  • marina

    19 June 2008, 01.04PM

    I have got ants in my compost, will they do any harm.

  • gorgturner@tiscali.co.uk

    02 September 2008, 11.05AM

    Why are worms trying to escape from my compost bin?

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