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!
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 Agents: The Key to Faster, Better Compost 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 »
My local council has a free compost scheme. The food and garden waste collected from households is turned into huge quantities of compost. A portion of this is taken to one collection point, and anyone can come and help themselves. When you arrive at the collection point, the compost is often still hot. Steam rises
5 Reasons to Let Your Compost Mature for Longer Read More »
Manure may smell, but as a source of fertility for your soil, it’s hard to beat. It’s also one of the best compost materials you can use. Despite that, there are problems with manure that you need to be aware of. You’ll also find that different animal manures have different properties, and need to be
Using Manure in Compost: How to Turn S**t Into Black Gold Read More »
If you think there’s only one or two types of composting, you might be in for a surprise. There’s actually dozens of ways you can turn organic waste into a soil amendment so valuable it’s called ‘black gold’. Each composting method has its pros and cons – and its fans and detractors! In reality, most
17 Composting Methods – Plus How to Choose the Best One For Your Garden and Your Needs Read More »
Hair. Dead chickens. Fish. I’ve composted them all. In fact, if your pile or bin maintains a temperature of at least 130-160°F (55-70°C), you can compost almost anything that’s recently been alive. Even if it’s not hot, you might be surprised at the number of things you can turn into compost. From garden waste to
What You Can Compost: From Everyday Items To The Bizarre… Read More »
So you want to know more about compost? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide, you’ll find a brief overview of what compost is, along with lots of links to more in-depth guides to explore at your leisure. (If you’d prefer to learn more about how compost is made, see our companion guide: