Making compost ,,, we love it #garden #gardenersworld #gardening #compost #diycompost #nature, by Charlie the Gardener on YouTube. 1 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes to set up, 2 to 6 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a level, well-drained spot in sun or part shade. Put your bin or heap there, ideally on bare soil so worms and microbes can get in.
Start with a layer of coarse brown material about 10 cm deep, such as twigs or torn cardboard. This lets air and drainage through the base.
Add a layer of green material: fruit and veg scraps, grass clippings or soft plant trimmings. Keep pieces small so they rot faster.
Cover the greens with a similar layer of browns: dead leaves, straw, shredded cardboard or paper. Aim for roughly two parts brown to one part green.
Repeat the green and brown layers until the bin is full. Water each layer lightly so the pile is damp like a squeezed sponge, not soaking.
Turn the pile with a fork every two to four weeks to add air. Move the outside material into the middle, where it breaks down fastest.
Check moisture when you turn it. Add water if it is dry and dusty, or mix in more browns if it is slimy and smelly.
Use the compost when it is dark, crumbly and smells earthy, usually after two to six months. Dig it into beds or use it as mulch.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep meat, dairy, cooked food and pet waste out of an open heap, as they attract pests and smell.
Chop large stems and thick cardboard into smaller pieces so they break down at the same rate as the rest.
If the pile smells sour, it is too wet and short of air. Turn it and add more brown material.
A pile that stays cold and slow is usually too dry or too small. Add water and bulk it up.
Questions
How long does it take to make compost?
A well-turned pile can be ready in two to three months in warm weather. A cold, unturned heap may take six months to a year.
Do I need a bin, or can I just make a heap?
An open heap works fine if you have space. A bin keeps things tidier, holds heat better and keeps animals out.
Why is my compost not breaking down?
It is probably too dry, too short of green material or not turned enough. Add water, mix in kitchen scraps and turn it more often.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
