Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

Good to hear I'm not doing something terribly wrong that's making it go mouldy.

When I was a kid and used to spend a lot of time at farms (we kept hosses), it was accepted knowledge in those days that a hay stack fire was most likely to happen if they hay had got wet and then allowed to dry. The reason being that if it got wet, then it would start to rot, and something 20ft...

Thanks Merle

my mum (86 now) always used a sheet of plastis and carpet underfelt or thin foam rubber. this seems to work quite well (she says)

john innes #3 only has enough nutrients for the 1st 6 weeks .... it says so on the bag initially, it holds water well, then after a while, it drains well .... it's one of the better potting soils on the UK market, but add some well rotted manure, garden topsoil etc

i I'd rather get some wormeries instead of splashing out on a tumbler ... the quality and nutrient value of vermicompost/worm humus is a lot better than any other compost

wow. Herts recyclers must have had their own agenda then! I don't keep rabbits though..

It will be bacteria if its hot, or fungi if its VERY hot. Those temperatures will drive rats (and worms ... ) out of the heap, and make the composting process much quicker ... if you can maintain the temperature (by having sufficient material to add, and being able to turn the compost...

Cheers chaps an chapessess thank you some good advice

Yes - think it may be the same - what a good idea to lay on unused soil for a time - will do that - thanks Kristen.

If it says Westland Sphagnum moss peat it should be OK. If its Westland Peat based compost it wont be good for carnivorous plants.

I read on several forums that the best compost is made from wormeries that have rabbit poo as a 50% diet for the worms

What about your compost bin though Dim?

I tried so many makes of compost this year that seemed to be full of soft wood pieces (it almost felt like wool), that I've asked garden centres to open a bag for me to see the texture before I buy. Of course that doesn't tell me anything about the quality of the nutrients etc but it does mean I...

my bin is now in full sun all day with the lid on .... when I open the lid, lots of steam comes out ... so, I think that may be the trick to compost making ... flies won't survive that heat, and the materials decompose faster

I like, very clever

Is there any liquid that needs to be added to a new compost bin? Just asking as I have brought a tumbler type and put a few grass cuttings and a bits of newspaper in, but just Seems very dry - should I be adding a bit of water on top just to get the process going or just leave it as it is?The...

I think it mucks up tiny, slow growing, seedlings. Plants that grow quicker / stronger are fine. Worth watering from below (stand the pot / tray in water for 10 minutes) and doing the "weight" method as John described - with practice its easy to tell whether the weight of a pot is "dry" or...

Granidol is the bestest I have seen this year. Nice to work with