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Composting- Frequently asked questions
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Composting- Frequently asked questions
Composting is nature's way of recycling. By turning
waste into compost less rubbish ends up in landfill, which
means less harmful gases.
More than half of what goes in your kitchen bin can be turned
into compost.
To compost at home all you need to do is get a compost bin,
place it in your garden and throw in your garden waste and
kitchen scraps. It will naturally break down and turn into
compost which is an soil improver excellent for flower beds,
vegetable patches and pot plants.
How does it turn into compost?
Worms, slugs, ants, beetles, bacteria and other little creatures
find their way into your compost bin and break down the waste as
they eat it, slowly turning it into compost.
How long does it take to turn into compost?
Your compost will be ready in about 6-9 months but this may be
faster or slower depending on where you put your bin and the time
of year. It will be quicker if it is in a sunny spot in the
garden and slower in winter time when temperatures are
colder. Don't forget if you are continually adding new things
into the top it will only be ready low down so you will need
to have a look from the bottom.
Will it attract rats and mice into my garden?
No. There is no reason a compost bin will attract rats or mice
if you follow the rules about what you can and cannot compost, as
shown the table above. Rats and mice will only be interested
in your compost bin if there is meat and cooked foods in there, so
keep those out and pests will stay away!
Can I compost if I have a patio?
Yes, you can place a compost bin on any surface. If it is
on a patio it will take longer to get going than if it is on the
grass or soil because it will take more time for the creatures
to find their way in to the bin. This means it will work just as
well but just take longer.
There are lots of flies in my compost bin, is it ok?
If there are a lot of flies and it looks slimy in your
compost bin then you have put too many 'greens' in the bin and need
more 'browns' - see table above. Add more 'browns' and
give it a stir if possible and it will be fine. If you
are adding lots of grass cuttings try and mix them up with shredded
paper or scrunched up cardboard to create important air
pockets.
It looks very dry in my compost bin, is it ok?
If it looks dry and like not much is going on in there then you
have put too many 'browns' in your bin and need to add more
'greens'. Giving it some water will also help.
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