Details
10ml of Compost Maker, mixed with a full watering-can, treats about one-and-a-half bin bags of waste.
Compost ready for use after ten weeks of rotting
Can be used to re-activate partially composted or dead heaps
Suitable for use in all types of compost bin
Encourages the correct enzymes for faster composting
100% Organic
Why compost?
- decomposing organic waste such as garden waste and food can lead to high methane levels when it is disposed of at landfill - methane is not only a potential fire risk but also a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming
- slims your bin and reduces the amount of waste going to landfill
- prevents the need for polluting bonfires
- reduces the need to water your garden
- increases plant growth and health
- replaces the need to use chemical fertilisers and pesticides
- replaces the need to use peat from fast-disappearing peat bogs
- your plants will thank you for it!
Top Tips
Step One – Placing your composter
It’s best to site your bin on a level, well-drained spot. This allows excess water to drain out and makes it easier for helpful creatures such as worms to get in and get working on breaking down the contents.
Step Two - Put these in
Like any recipe, your compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work. Good things you can compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are quick to rot and provide important nitrogen and moisture. Other things you can compost include cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves. These are slower to rot. They provide fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals.
Step Three - Keep these out
Certain things should never be placed in your bin. No cooked vegetables, no meat, no dairy products, no diseased plants, and definitely no dog poo or cat litter, or baby’s nappies. Putting these in your bin can encourage unwanted pests and can also create odour. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (such as dandelions and thistle) or weeds with seed heads. Remember that plastics, glass and metals are not suitable for composting and should be recycled separately.
Step Four - Making good compost
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. Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy. Air can also be added by mixing the contents. After approximately 6-9 months your finished compost will be ready.
Step Five - Using your compost
Finished compost is a dark brown, almost black soil-like layer that you’ll find at the bottom of your bin. It has a spongy texture and is rich in nutrients. Some bins have a small hatch at the bottom that you can remove to get at the finished product, but sometimes it’s even easier to lift the bin or to tip it over to get at your compost. Spreading the finished compost into your flowerbeds greatly improves soil quality by helping it retain moisture and suppressing weeds. Composting is the easiest way to make your garden grow more beautiful.