Ready to get the most out of your garden and turn waste into black gold? It’s time to learn about composting! Here you’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions, informative articles and pro tips on the composting process that will help you become a master composter in no time.
If you’re totally new to composting, start off with our home composting guide, while experienced composters might want to find out our 17 tips for speeding compost up!
Moisture. It’s one of the most important elements of composting – but also one of the most overlooked. You won’t always need to adjust it, but knowing when – and how – to do so can help you make better, faster compost. So in this article, you’ll learn: Why is moisture important in compost? In […]
Moisture in Compost: The Complete Guide to Getting It Right Read More »
I love using (the right kind of!) ash in the garden. I use it as a barrier around young tender plants to deter slugs, as part of a mix to make highly effective homemade fertilizer and to adjust the pH of the soil before planting brassicas. (I’ve even started to ask friends to keep leftover
Ash in Compost: 6 Powerful Benefits (and How to Use It Right!) Read More »
I didn’t scream. Honestly. It was more of a gasp. (A manly one, I might add. A claim I can make in the confident knowledge that I was the only person at the bottom of the garden.) I’d opened the lid to my compost bin, and there was a humongous rat staring at me. It
Rats In Your Compost? Here’s What to Do… Read More »
I remember asking a hairdresser if I could collect hair from her. I’ll never forget the look she gave me. Even after I explained it was for my compost heap, she still seemed to think I was rather strange. Eventually, she swept up my hair and put in a bag for me – but there
Can You Really Compost Hair? Here’s What The Science Says Read More »
Next time you walk in a forest, try bending down and taking a handful of the soil. You’ll find it dark with a delightful smell somewhere between rich earth and old leaves. These leaves are full of nutrients – the very nutrients that can be used to grow huge trees. And in the autumn, there
Leaf Mold Magic: How to Use Fallen Leaves to Improve Your Garden Soil Read More »
It’s amazing how much advice on turning compost varies. Some sources advise turning compost every two to three days; others just once, and others not at all. If you’re wondering which advice to take, the first thing to remember is that every composting method works eventually. If you dump organic material into a pile and
How Often Should You Turn Compost? Read More »
My first compost heaps were pretty awful. I used to put everything in a corner of the garden, and then wondered months later why I had a slimy mess. Later on I experimented with regular turning of my compost pile, and decided it was too much work to turn a compost heap every few days.
Compost Bulking Agent: The Secret Key to Successful Composting Read More »
When I dig into my compost and find thousands of worms wriggling around, my heart leaps with joy. That’s because worms carry many benefits for the compost heap, helping with everything from aeration to removing pathogens – and adding nutrient-rich worm castings. Meanwhile, adding that finished compost to the soil encourages other worms, which in
How Worms Work Their Magic In Compost Read More »
Both gardening and composting are full of controversy. Compost tea is no different. You’ll find experts and scientists that believe compost tea makes no difference to plants – and could even be harmful. You’ll also find other experts that are convinced it can prevent disease and introduce beneficial microbes to your soil. Let’s take a
Compost Tea: What is it, how to use it and does it work? Read More »
One of the reasons many people are reluctant to compost is the concern about insect invasions, whether that is in a small kitchen compost bin or a larger outdoor bin. And as anyone who has ever had an outdoor picnic knows: where there is food, you will find ants. Ants come quickly to a food
How to Avoid Ants in Your Compost Bin Read More »