What to do with compost bin full of grass?

browneyedbazzi

There is a compost bin in my garden that was left behind by the previous owners. It looks like they simply dumped their grass clippings in the bin and never did anything with it or added other things to keep it balanced. It's about 3/4 full of old gross looking grass. What should I do with it? Can it be salvaged or does it need to be cleared out to start again? (not a job I want to do!)

SailorSam

I don't think just grass will compost down, it will just go slimey. You could try takingsome out then adding it back bit by bit with old newspaper etc. But you're going to have so many fresh cuttings now why keep the slimey stuff. I think i'd put most of it in your Council Grass Recycle bin if you have one.

browneyedbazzi

I thought as much - it's already looking pretty gross. We don't have a proper bin for green waste collection, just some clear bags. I'm not sure they'll pick it up if it's full of grass sludge

NeverInDebt

You could maybe use some as a mulch on your garden

Newbold

Mix it with other garden refuse (leafy stuff) bit by bit and it should still be recoverable as compost in time. Left as it is, it will become slimier and slimier.

paddyrg

It's a variant of silage! Problem is it has no air in there, so mixing it in with something else (newspaper is ideal, or other dryish stuff) will give the worms a chance to get in and break it down. A healthy compost heap will keep going down and turning into excellent soil, even grass clippings can make good worm food becoming good growing medium.