Making your own compost

Many people feel that compost bins like these are essential in the garden when compost is being made, and it would also seem that open slatted wooden structures are more eco-friendly than plastic. But which is really going to make the best compost in the end?

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules in compost making, if you waited long enough, you don't even need a container! However, when you are pressed for time, containers will quicken the procedure, help to insulate the heap and keep it tidy and manageable.

Choose a bin you can place straight on the ground, so that worms and organisms in the soil are encouraged to interact with your waste and produce a good mulch. The bin must have a lid to keep out the worst of any extremes in weather.

A good mix of waste materials is vital to successful composting - don't use only grass clippings, and add plenty of leaves and some torn up cardboard, but no old magazines - the shiny paper does not break down well. This will balance out the nitrogen and carbon ratio.

Don't feel shy to have your compost bin showing in your garden - keep it tidy and arrange a few pots and containers around it with eye-catching flowers like creeping nasturtiums or marigolds to catch the eye rather than the ugly bin. The odd spade or fork lent against the bin also gives it a homely feel and seeing it on display will tell your visitors that you are serious about feeding your garden

If you prefer a more natural looking container, then a few old wooden pallets (scrounged from your local builder) will do a good job banged together to form a square container. Remember to build the compost straight on soil for interaction with worms and other organisms. The more worms you have in your bin, the better the compost!

All your kitchen scraps, excepting cooked left over meals, dairy products or meat will do a good job in your compost. Use up all your garden clippings too, and your weeds, but remember to keep out invasive grass roots which might happily reinstate themselves in your lovely compost and take over your beds once you spread the new mulch into your garden

Do you have some good compost making tips? If so, we'd love to hear about them - everyone has favourite way of making the stuff, so let's share them around.

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