5 STEPS TO RICH, NUTRITIOUS COMPOST



5 STEPS TO RICH, NUTRITIOUS COMPOSTBottom layer: lay loose, coarse twigs and small branches on the ground inside bin. Second Layer: Moist nitrogen layer - heats up the heap: build a 15 - 20cm deep layer of mixed green waste (see list below) Third layer: Dry carbon layer - soaks up moisture from the nitrogen layer: build a 15 - 20cm deep layer of mixed dry waste (see list below)Fourth Layer: Sprinkle over a handful of Yates Nature’s Way Compost Maker Repeat the process until the bin is comfortably full. Layers will sink as decomposition takes place.Note: Compost is ready when it becomes dark and crumbly, and you cannot distinguish the original materials. This process can take anything from 3 – 12 months depending on ingredients and methodology.MATERIALS SUITABLE FOR COMPOSTINGGreen (wet) material: fresh grass clippings and leaves, hedge trimmings, food scraps, vegetable peelings, tea leaves, seaweed, poultry & horse manure, weeds (without seeds), coffee groundsBrown (dry) material: dry leaves (including pine needles), tree branches, dry twigs & sticks, straw, bark, untreated sawdust & wood ash, crushed shells and egg shells, shredded newspaper, egg cartons, torn cardboard.Do not include: meat, fish, oil, bones, fat, dairy foods (all attract rodents); faeces & diseased plant material (may cause disease); invasive weeds, bulbs & weed seeds (can be added after treatment with herbicides); bamboo, cabbage trees leaves & flax (difficult to break down).TIPS TO HELP SPEED UP COMPOSTING PROCESSShred or cut up composting material into 5-10cm long pieces approximately 2 – 3cm thick. Avoid thick layers as this will result in poor aeration. Apply Yates Nature’s Way Compost Maker to each layer.Keep the compost heap about as moist as a squeezed out sponge. Keep a cover over the heap to prevent it becoming too wet.Turn the compost every 2 weeks to assist aeration and the supply of oxygen to decomposing organisms.Consider neighbours by siting the heap or bin away from any areas that are too close and could cause offenceTo work properly, your compost heap should be at least 1m high x 1m wide x 1m deepStart with a layer of coarsely chopped twiggy woody material on bare soil or grassAdd alternate layers of green matter (nitrogen rich) and brown matter (carbon rich) preferably in layers no more than 5 to 10cm deepLimit all layers, including grass clippings, to thin layersIf you can't be bothered layering, just make sure there is a mixture of green and brown matterAvoid cat/dog/human faeces, meat, fish, bones, oil and invasive weedsSmaller pieces make quicker compost - for quick compost, fibrous materials should be no bigger than the thickness of your finger (2cm)The heap should have a cover, eg. plastic lid, under felt, tarpaulinBe aware that it is difficult to manage rodents if a compost heap is usedRodents can be kept out by cutting out a piece of chicken wire larger than the bin base. Place it underneath the bin on the soil and fold the edges 10cm up the sides of the bin.??Once an open heap is 1 metre in height, you should finish it by turning it with a pitchfork and mixing it up every week or two??Either use a new bin for the new heap, or use your original bin and just keep the old heap covered with underfelt, tarpaulin or something similar??Compost is ready when it becomes a sweet, dark, crumbly material and you cannot distinguish the original materials in it??If compost is well maintained and turned often it can be ready in as little as 6 to 8 weeks. If it is never turned, it will be ready in 12 to 18 months??When it's ready, put it onto the soil or dig it into your garden. You can also use it for pot plants and for potting up seedlings??Don't forget to wash your hands when you've finished composting and gardening! HYPERLINK "" \l "top#top" -540385-9360535What can and can't be compostedWhat canGreen - nitrogen richBrown - carbon rich, dryfood scraps manure fresh grass clippings weeds without seeds vegetable scraps seaweed tea leaves and bags coffee grounds torn newspaper/cardboard egg cartons tree prunings dry leaves bark, untreated sawdust wood ash twigs and sticks crushed shells What can'tAlthough in theory anything organic can be composted, some things are best avoided when composting at home.MaterialReasonCat and dog faecesCan cause diseaseMeat, fish, oil, bones, fatCan attract ratsNon-organics eg tin, glass, plasticsWon't break downInvasive weeds, eg kikuyu, wandering willy, jasmineCould spread in or beyond your garden - however they can be composted after treatmentLarge amounts of pine needles or gum leavesAllopathic- create environment hostile to compost creaturesWoody materials in pieces larger than the diameter of your fingerToo slow to break downDiseased plants (eg with blight)Disease may spreadBamboo, flax and cabbage tree leavesNot suitable for composting and not taken by composting companies (bury in the ground, or take to a transfer station for landfilling)-540385-6095365Common problemsProblemCauseSolutionSmelly, slimy heapNot enough airToo wetToo much nitrogenTurn heapAdd brown material (eg. dry leaves)Materials are not decomposingHeap too smallNot enough heat due to lack of green materials or waterMaterials in heap are too largeIncrease size of heapAdd green materials (eg. manure or blood and bone) and waterBreak materials down into small piecesPests attracted to heap eg. flies, cockroaches, rats, miceWrong food addedBin not rodent proofDon't use meat/bones/fishBury food scraps in centre of heapRodent proof your binFruit flies (vinegar flies)Heap is too acidicSprinkle lime on heapAntsHeap is too dryAdd water and limeOther "mini-beasts", eg beetles, wormsThis is not a problem - creatures are essential to the composting processAppreciate the work they do!To add, or not to add… ADD: Carbon: paper / egg cartons / wheat / straw / sawdust / chipped wood products / dry dead leaves, stalks and branches.Nitrogen: animal manures / grass clippings / green garden prunings / weeds / food waste.DO NOT ADD: dairy products / meat / fish / dog, cat or human faeces / weed seeds / large bones /oil or fat products / disposable nappies (despite manufacturers urges to do so) / diseased plant material / noxious weeds. ................
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