How to make compost
Garden compost is a soil enhancer created from decomposed plant materials, typically made in a compost bin or heap. It’s used to enrich the soil, improve its structure, and increase the amount of water it can hold, and is an excellent way to utilise your garden waste. It needs to include roughly a 40%60% split of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material to get the right level of bacteria and micro-organisms that will benefit your garden.
What goes into compost
40% Green material (nitrogen rich)
- grass cuttings
- nettles (not roots)
- uncooked fruit and veg peelings
- tea leaves
- young weeds
- comfrey leaves
- tea leaves and coffee grounds
- garden prunings
- egg shells
60% Brown material (carbon rich)
- cardboard (cereal packets, toilet rolls, egg cartons etc
- old animal bedding from vegetarian pets
- waste paper
- paper towels and bags
- tough garden prunings
- straw
What sort of compost bin to get
Compost bins should fit the space you have and come in a huge range of shapes and sizes to fit all budgets, or you can make your own.
Buying a compost bin
Look for a compost bin that suits the amount of waste your garden is likely to make, and the size of outside space you have. For beginners, a small plastic bin is often enough.
Making a compost bin
Using pallets is just one material you can build a structure for your compost from
Where to put your compost heap or bin
A semi shaded location is good for a compost heap on top of soil or turf ideally (you can put it on to a hard surface with a couple of spades of soil at the bottom) and easily accessible.