where do you place a compost heap

Where do you place a compost heap? You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade , but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster.

Full Answer

Where to put compost pile?

You can put the compost pile a short walk from the house and keep sufficient space so you can turn it well. Keep it in a shaded area away from intense sunlight. Don’t put it on pavement or concrete and protect it from windy or wet conditions.

How do I get my compost bin ready?

Pick the perfect spot for your compost heap or bin It’s best to site it on a level, well-drained spot, which will ensure that any excess water drains away easily. This also helps worms to get in and get on with the job of breaking down the content. 3. Let the worms do the hard work

How do I choose the Best Composting Site?

Choose an open, level area with good drainage. You do not want your compost to sit in standing water. An area with partial sun or shade is also ideal. Too much sun can dry the pile out, while too much shade can keep it overly wet. Finally, choose a site that is easy for you to get to and avoid areas near dogs or other meat-eating animals.

What can you compost in your backyard?

Manures, food scraps, coffee grounds, green leaves, and grass clippings are excellent nitrogen-rich green materials. A simple rule of thumb is to make sure the compost pile has approximately 2/3 “brown” materials and 1/3 “green” materials. There are many different ways to compost in your backyard.

Where should I put compost in my garden?

Work 1–2 inches of compost into the top 3–5 inches of soil. Give your vegetable garden plenty of compost in the fall. Spread several inches of compost on top of the existing bed, then till it into the soil in the springtime. Put a handful of compost in each hole when you're planting.

Where should compost be in sun or shade?

You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster. This also means that your pile will dry out faster, especially in warm southern climates.

How far should compost be from garden?

If you are composting correctly, neither of these issues should be a problem. Err on the side of caution and don't put your compost bin right up against the house. Position it somewhere convenient though that won't see you traipsing across the yard in the cold and rain. A minimum of 10 feet is a good rule of thumb.

How often do you water compost?

On average, plan to water your compost pile every three to seven days. In other words: once or twice a week. This is generally considered a good rule of thumb among most gardeners as the best time to wait before watering compost again. If you live in a dry, warm environment, it is better to water twice a week.

How often should compost be turned?

every three to seven daysThat being said, a good rule of thumb is to turn a compost tumbler every three to four days and the compost pile every three to seven days. As your compost matures, you can turn the tumbler or pile less frequently.

Does compost need to touch the ground?

The “Composting Is Expensive” Myth Build it on the bare earth, out in the open or within the confines of wooden pallets or other materials. In fact, your pile will break down faster when it's touching the earth because the microbes are quickly introduced into the pile.

Can you use compost if rats have been in it?

Compost that has come from a bin or heap that rats have lived in can be used in the garden but avoid using it on fruits or vegetables that are going to be eaten raw and the edible parts may be in contact with the soil or compost e.g. radish, celery, cucumber, strawberry.

Why should a compost heap be sited under a tree?

Under trees – Locate your compost under trees with caution, because, after heavy rains and the tree's shade, the compost may dry out too slow. The trees roots may send roots into the bottom of the compost searching for nutrients and water.

Warm but Not Too Hot

A hot corner of your garden will undoubtedly produce compost quickly, but if it’s too hot the compost will dry out. Composting requires a well balanced level of moisture to work properly. Avoid areas with intense sunlight. The composting process works better when the pile remains moist, so avoid any spots which risk overheating the bin.

Avoid Windy Sites

In a similar way to very sunny locations, if you put the bin somewhere windy, it will dry out. You want the pile to remain humid. If you can, pick a spot which has natural or man-made windbreakers.

An Easily Accessible Location

It’s a good idea to site your bin not too far from the house so that composting kitchen waste is easy. A big distance means you might be reluctant to make the trip to your compost heap! And if it’s too far you will probably stop tending to your compost.

Somewhere with Working Space

Just like leaving access for a wheelbarrow, you also need some space to work in front of your bin. For best results, compost needs regular mixing. If you have a compost tumbler then this isn’t a problem.

Put it Near your Plants

Compost is fairly dense and heavy. Ideally, when you’re ready to use your compost you don’t want to have to carry the stuff long distances. If your compost bin is sited near to where you tend your plants, this could be an advantage.

Choose a Level, Well-Drained Site

You obviously need a reasonably level surface to site your bin, but the ground surface should also be well-drained, especially if you’re using an open bottomed bin. Even though you want your compost to stay moist, too much water is equally bad. If the compost sits too long in stagnant water you’ll end up with a smelly mess.

Leave Room for Growth

You may start out with one compost bin in your backyard, but some keen gardeners set up multiple bins. Additional bins can be reserved for a specific kind of waste. Alternatively a “three bin” composting system is a good way to manage large amounts of waste material, and get compost at various stages of readiness.

How to make compost good?

The key to good compost lies in getting the mix right. You need to keep your ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ properly balanced. If your compost is too wet, add more ‘browns’. If it’s too dry, add some ‘greens’. Making sure there is enough air in the mixture is also important.

What to put in compost?

Put the right stuff in. Good things to compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are fast to break down and provide important nitrogen as well as moisture. It’s also good to include things such as cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves.

How to encourage enzymes in compost?

You can encourage the correct enzymes in your compost by using a compost activator. It helps to turn your grass, leaves and garden waste into dark, rich, crumbly compost in less than half the time. You mix a small amount into water, pour it onto your compost and after 10 weeks of rotting your compost is ready to use.

Can you put fallen leaves in compost?

As autumn seems to have come early to many of us you can use fallen leaves as a good source of compost. It’s fine to add these to your compost bin but if you have large amounts of leaves, you might prefer to place them in a large biodegradable leaf bag.

Can you use fallen leaves for potting mix?

Once you’ve gathered up your fallen leaves they can be left to turn into a brilliant source of moisture-rich soil improver that’s great to use for potting mixes as an alternative to peat. The leaves will be kept neatly in one place and the sack will biodegrade, leaving you with a rich pile of wonderful compost. 10.

Can you put dog poo in compost?

Certain things should never be placed in your bin. No meat or dairy products unless you’ve opted for a digester. No diseased plants, and definitely no dog poo or cat litter, or babies’ nappies. Putting any of these in your compost will lead to unwanted pests and smells.

How to make compost?

There are a number of ways to compost, but on average, compost can be created using five methods: 1 holding units 2 turning units 3 compost heaps 4 soil incorporation 5 vermicomposting

How many ways can you make compost?

There are a number of ways to compost, but on average, compost can be created using five methods: holding units. turning units. compost heaps. soil incorporation. vermicomposting. The focus of this article will be on heap composting for beginners, as this is the easiest and least expensive method for most people.

How big should a compost pile be?

Size – The recommended size for a compost pile is generally no smaller than 3 feet (1 m.) high and wide and no larger than 5 feet (1.5 m.). Anything smaller may not heat up efficiently and anything larger may hold too much water and become difficult to turn.

How to keep compost from getting wet?

Choose an open, level area with good drainage. You do not want your compost to sit in standing water. An area with partial sun or shade is also ideal. Too much sun can dry the pile out, while too much shade can keep it overly wet.

What are the key materials for composting?

dog, cat) Diseased plants, or weeds that have seeded. Human waste. Charcoal or coal ash ( wood ash is ok though) The key materials for composting are nitrogen/greens and carbon/browns. When starting a compost pile, the recommended practice is to layer or alternate these ...

Do you need to water compost?

Watering and Turning the Compost. Your compost pile should be moist, but not soggy. Most of your water will come from rain, as well as the moisture in green materials, but you may need to water the pile yourself on occasion.

Can you use a compost bin for composting?

With heap composting, there are no structures required, though you may use a compost bin if desired. Keep in mind that a compost heap or pile may not appear as neat and tidy as using a bin, but it is still one of the best options for newbies. You can also camouflage a compost pile with tall flowering plants or fencing.

How to make a compost pile?

The simplest way to compost is to create a pile or heap in the yard, tending to it as necessary. Situate it in a dry, shady spot fairly close to a water source if possible. Clear a space in your yard or garden, exposing bare soil. Build a base layer of straw or twigs.

How to compost brown and green?

Add layers of materials to be composted one at a time, alternating between brown and green materials. Incorporate a nitrogen source to start decomposition. Some gardeners add a handful of nitrogen fertilizer to jumpstart the process. Keep the pile moist.

What is an enclosed compost bin?

Enclosed bins completely enclose the process via a lid and eliminate both the sight of a compost pile and the smell. Tumblers are a unique, efficient type of enclosed compost bin. Cylindrical in nature, a tumbler has hand-held insets or a handle that allows it to be “turned” or tumbled easily.

What is composting bin?

Materials are literally heaped into a pile and turned periodically to aerate. Composting bins are either open or enclosed bins that contain everything. Open bins are a partial structure allowing for ventilation and aeration while keeping materials confined.

What are brown materials in compost?

Typical brown items are wood-based or fibrous: dry leaves, branches, stems, sawdust, tree bark, shredded newspaper, corn stalks, wood ash, and pine needles.

What is organic composting?

Organic composting is a natural process where a pile of yard waste and kitchen scraps is broken down. Mix the right ingredients in the right proportions and bacteria, fungi, and worms produce an organic material praised as “black gold.”.

What are the three elements that make up compost?

Carbon (C) Nitrogen (N) Moisture. Oxygen (O2) Microorganisms. In the presence of moisture and oxygen, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, bugs, and worms work in three stages to create compost. How long the entire process takes depends on how involved you are, the size of your pile, and what you put into it.

Introduction

Composting is good for the planet, good for your garden, and good for your kitchen, but that doesn’t mean it always goes smoothly.

One: Teabags

A teabag might seem a very innocuous thing to add to your compost heap, and the tea itself is, but unfortunately, the bag is something you should steer clear of adding to any organic waste pile.

Two: Meat

This might seem like a very broad category, but you should avoid composting meat. While meat is an organic substance that will break down over time, like other compostable materials, it is not something you should be adding to a home composter.

Three: Oily Foods

A little bit of oil is not going to cause problems in an established, large compost heap, but a lot of oil could upset the balance. Oil doesn’t break down easily, and because it will coat things in the bin, it may slow the overall decomposition process.

Four: Citrus Peels

Orange peel might not seem like a bad thing to add to your compost bin, but it can cause big problems. Firstly, it takes a long time to break down because it is fibrous and tough. Secondly, the worms – which are a big contributor to the composting process – do not like citrus much.

Five: Baked Goods

Bread and other baked goods are another apparently harmless food that you should think twice before adding to your compost heap. It’s not a problem to add a little bit, but significant quantities may cause issues.

Six: Dairy Products

Dairy is also an attractive food to many pest species, and can add unwanted oiliness to your compost bin (depending on the kind of dairy you include). In small quantities, it is unlikely to cause a problem, but a large amount of dairy is not good for your compost.