Creating and maintaining a compost heap.

Compost is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to add nutrients back into your garden soil, improve soil structure, and act as a mulch to reduce moisture loss. It’s also perfect for filling pots, planters and hanging baskets. 

Choose a compost bin to suit the amount of space you have available and the quantity of waste your garden produces. For beginners and those with a small garden, a compact plastic bin is often a good alternative. Keen gardeners recommend that you have 3 heaps, one that you are adding material to, one that full and is cooking and the third that you are taking material from. 

The best location for a compost bin is a sheltered spot in partial or full shade, to avoid extremes of temperature and moisture. Standing the bin on an earth base provides good access for soil organisms and allows easy drainage. But a hard surface is fine too – just add a few spadefuls of soil to get it off to a good start. 

You can add most organic material to your compost, including grass clippings, weeds, straw, manure, shredded newspaper, kitchen waste, plant cuttings, and prunings. Compost heaps break down material more quickly when built in layers.  

Avoid letting one specific material dominate – especially grass clippings, as these can become a slimy, smelly mess on their own. 

1. Start with a Base Layer: Add a 9-inch layer of grass cuttings and weeds to the bottom of the heap, ensuring it is level.  

2. Add Nitrogen-Rich Material: On top of the base layer, add an inch of nitrogen-rich material like horse or chicken manure. 

3. Layer Mixed Waste: Next, add a 6-inch layer of coarse mixed waste such as shredded branches, straw, twigs, vegetable peelings, and eggshells. Wet all dry material. 

4. Sprinkle Compost Accelerator: Use compost accelerator, such as human urine or if this seems extreme, use an organic mix such as Envii, to boost the process. 

5. Build Up Layers: Continue adding layers until the heap is around 3 feet high. 

6. Cover the Heap: Use an old piece of carpet or polythene to cover the heap, keeping out rainwater which can cool the heap and stop bacterial activity. 

After a week, the heap should start heating up and steaming, indicating the composting process is working and weed seeds are being killed. Turn the heap every four to six weeks to aerate and speed up composting. 

Once the bin is full, stop adding new material and start a new heap if you have the space. Continuously adding to a single heap can compact it and hinder the composting process. In six to nine months, you should have perfect crumbly compost ready to use as mulch or top dressing for your garden beds and borders. Any material that hasn't fully broken down can be added to your new heap.