Novice composter question

ellay864

Hi, my first post to these pages..be gentle with me! I must confess I'm not really much of a gardener but my OH has spent this year transforming the back garden - new lawn, lovely smart raised beds, new patio and paving. But aside from the gardening one thing I am keen on is being green and am planning to get a compost bin. I've read some useful tips on here but have one question I couldn't find the answer to....I've read that compost bins should be in a sunny spot, but the 'perfect place' I'd envisaged in our garden is pretty shady, at the back ,next to the shed, under a large tree. Anywhere else is either right close to the kitchen window which I don't want, in the middle of our raised beds where OH has plans for plants or round the side of the house sitting on concrete in a very restricted access area.
So how 'bad' is it to put it in a shady area? Will I have to do anything extra to it if it's not getting the sun on it? I'd be gutted if I couldn't have one - I recycle pretty much everything else now and hate filling up bins with peelings etc when I know it could be used more constructively

alanobrien

It doesnt matter, mine is in deep shade and has been for the last six years and it produces great compost so dont worry about it.

DogsBody

Two of mine are in shade too (I have 3 ). I'd rather put them in shade on soil than in the sun on concrete, need me worms getting in the bottom! Haven't noticed that the shady ones are any slower than the sunny one, even in winter, when they are all slower anyway! And another thing!;) I'm not going to give up a sunny spot that could have plants growing in it when there is a handy shady spot that nowt will grow in!:rotfl:

wallbash

Could not have put it better than DogsBody

Kay_Peel

The only reason that the books and experts recommend a sunny spot is that the sun's rays (so they say) helps to heat up the compost bin.

Are they kidding? It's complete and utter baloney. The sun may heat up parts of the bin, on the outside, but it won't have any effect on what's happening in the heart of the compost.

My bins are in deep shade under trees. I turn the compost frequently and add nettles to make it heat up. I'm careful about balancing the contents - not too much grass and green stuff unless I've got some brown stuff (cardboard and paper mostly) to mix in.

None of us have 'ideal' gardens, equipment or conditions to work in and we learn to bend the rules or ignore them. Put your bin where it is convenient for you and don't mind what the so-called experts say!

:T

Orange_King

Make sure the bin is sitting level when you do decide where to put it! I had to sort mine at the weekend as it was leaning forward and was almost full so it took a while to shovel all the stuff out of the way and then back in again. At least it got a mixing and there were plenty of worms in the compost.

It was a bit on the wet side though - have to add some paper/cardboard I think to soak up the moisture.

ellay864

Thanks for all your replies...I'm so glad I asked now, I'm always dubious about believing the 'experts'!