Stop Wasting Money! 5 Easy Ways To Make Your Own Compost At Home, by Just a Happy Gardener-Small Space Growing Scotland on YouTube. 12 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour to set up, 3 to 12 mont
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a level spot in sun or part shade for your bin. Clear the ground and loosen the soil underneath so worms and air can get in.
Build a simple bin from four pallets stood on edge and tied at the corners. Leave one side loose so you can turn the pile.
Start the lasagna method by layering brown material like cardboard or dry leaves, then green waste like peelings and grass clippings.
Keep adding thin layers of browns and greens, roughly two parts brown to one part green. Water each layer until it feels like a damp sponge.
Turn the pile every few weeks with a fork to add air. The centre should heat up; when it stops heating and looks dark and crumbly, it is ready.
For liquid feed, half fill a bucket or lidded container with fresh green waste such as nettles or comfrey leaves.
Top up with water, cover with a lid, and leave it for two to four weeks. Stir now and then.
Dilute the finished liquid about one part feed to ten parts water and pour it around the base of your plants.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep meat, dairy and cooked food out of open bins to avoid rats and smells.
Chop scraps small and mix them in rather than leaving them on top.
A lid or old carpet on the bin keeps rain out and heat in.
Wear gloves when handling waste and liquid feed, and keep the lid on the liquid container.
Questions
How long until my compost is ready?
A hot pile turned often can finish in two to three months. A cool pile may take six to twelve months. It is ready when it is dark, crumbly and smells earthy.
Can I compost on a balcony?
Yes. Use a sealed bin or wormery with a lid and keep it out of direct sun. Small amounts of kitchen scraps work well in a compact system.
Why does my pile smell bad?
Too much green waste and water causes it. Add more brown material like cardboard or dry leaves and turn the pile to let air in.
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.
