How to Prepare New Composter?

savemoney · 29 May 2010 at 5:21PM

Home made compost is fine mixed in with other compost like multipurpose or even soil wouldnt use it on its own unless it was used as a soil improver, mulch. Also wouldnt use for seedlings/cuttings

dogstarheaven · 29 May 2010 at 5:33PM

so it's ok to layer the 1st layer with kitchen waste then? coz i can't see that decomposing until the layers have built-up with some depth to them... after all, there needs to be heat to start it off, doesn't it? i don't have my leaves or grass clippings yet, so i'll have to make do with kitchen waste... the bin is about 300ltr big, i think... so that'll take time for it to get going, won't it (esp. when i've just myself to cook for).

morg_monster · 29 May 2010 at 8:30PM

All you people with new black bins - consider rat-proofing them if you've ever seen hide or hair of one in your garden. We started composting in february and last weekend I spent a day shovelling all its contents into the wheelbarrow and then covering the bottom with bird mesh... We had rats tunnelling through the soil underneath and into the bin, and pulling bits out to eat. Apparently they like eggshells; so we're not composting them anymore! If you think you might have a problem with vermin its much easier to make it inaccessible to them before it's full of rotting veg. The black dalek ones DO have a bottom available to keep out vermin, it costs about £7 I think.

Oh but the rats do speed up the compost process with all their digging and nibbling!

savemoney · 29 May 2010 at 9:50PM

I keep mine on concrete slab so only way to get in its chew through the plastic so wire mesh on floor wouldn't help

Haven't had any rats in 3 years

dogstarheaven · 30 May 2010 at 10:20AM

oh dear.. i wouldn't want any mice/rats in mine.. i'm actually v phobic about these as my cats bring mice in the house and it stresses me out! i've just done some research about siting the bin on concrete and it seems that there will be liquid seepage so i'll have to think of what i can use to collect this. also, i've read that the bottom layer should be cardboard and then garden soil/manure/freshly decomposed compost from an existing bin to go over the top so as to allow existing bacteria to work on the fresh green waste that will go in afterwards.

savemoney · 30 May 2010 at 10:25AM

I get no seepage out of mine I even put water in if its dry and I dont even have it in a sunny place

Its also under a wall so only gets sun first thing in morning as it faces east

dogstarheaven · 30 May 2010 at 10:47AM

hmm, i'll see what is best then. my North-facing bin is next to a shady wall in the far corner of a 10m by 4m garden with only a 3.5m rectangular bed (it's the only ground-level soil i have). the rest are pots and a 2 timber raised beds sitting on concrete. your garden looks lovely, those nasturtiums trained up the fence by the bin looks really effective.

bottlehalffull · 30 May 2010 at 12:24PM

I'd find a bit without slabs. Slabs are useful for having other stuff on.

jammy_dodger · 30 May 2010 at 7:41PM

its male urine thats a good activator ( sorry us ladies is no use ) also if you live near the coast collect seaweed and add as a layer this too is a great activator for your heap