Composting

Why make compost?

Compost lightens heavy soil, helps light soils hold more water, feeds plants and helps control diseases.  Also it saves you money by helping cut down on buying soil improver products, fertilisers and mulches.  Furthermore, it reduces pollution and it contributes towards a cleaner environment.

 What can I compost?

If it can rot, it will compost, but some items are best avoided.  Some things like grass mowing and young weeds rot very quickly.  They work as activators, getting the composting started, while older and tougher plant material is slower to rot, but gives body to the finished compost.

Quick to rot:

• Comfrey leaves.
• Grass cuttings.
• Poultry manure.
• Young weeds.

Slower to rot:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps.
• Tea and coffee bags.
• Old straw or hay.
• Plant remains.
• Straw manures.
• Old flowers.
• Old bedding plants.
• Young hedge trimmings.
• Soft pruning.
• Perennial weeds.
• Vegetarian pet bedding.

Very slow to rot:

• Autumn leaves.
• Tough hedge clippings.
• Woody prunings.
• Sawdust and wood shavings.

Other compost-able items:

• Wood ash.
• Cardboard.
• Paper towels.
• Bags.
• Packaging.
• Cardboard tubes.
• Egg boxes.

Best avoided:

• Meat.
• Fish.

Do not compost:

• Coal and coke ash.
• Dog faeces.
• Glossy magazines.

Let´s speed the process

Usable compost is normally produced after at least 12 months.  A dry compost bing can slow down the rotting process.  Add a little of water gradually with a watering can.  Green and sappy materials add more nitrogen.  Add grass cuttings or young stinging nettles.  If you have veggie rabbits or piggies, add a little of their bedding or manure.  Always chop everything you put into your compost into very small pieces and give it a good mix regularly.  Once your compost has turned into crumbly dark material and looks like thick moire soil, you know it´s ready to be used.

Resources:
- Great Aycliffe City Council.
- Woking City Council.

Making a compost bin by Which