Advice please!

Hi all, i'm a bit of a gardening newbie, with a few q's to ask you wise folks... for starters: how should i best start off the two big green plastic compost bins i have been given? should i put them straight onto grass, or bare earth, use branches/twigs at the bottom? can i just start adding kitchen s****s and garden waste bit by bit or do i need a whole load of stuff all at once? Any advice would be very welcome
elf

 

hi elf sorry i cant give you any advice never done my own compost.but i would like to give you a warm welcome to G.C. if you go to the new members section and introduce your self you will
get all the help you need off this friendly bunch

 

Lay on bare earth. Creepies can then climb up and make your compost. Lay twigs down on earth so just for some drainage. Then start adding greens and browns.

Google compostnow, they have a good explaination.

Oh and welcome!!

 

Hi Elf welcome to our friendly forum.

I agree with Newbie I always put mine on bare earth and it seems to work well for me.

Good luck with your bin I'm sure in next to no time at all you will have lovely compost along with those wonderful little pink worms .....ideal if there's a fisherman in your household as they can save you a small fortune on maggots! :D
Helen.xxx.

 

thanks for the tips all, i'll be clearing a patch of earth under them today then

 

best tips I can give you are

1) to use only one bin and then start on the second only once the first one's full up

2) to put in plenty of wet, shredded paper and cardboard

3) to add stuff in layers and not in a pile or pyramid shape

4) to add activators: either bought, chicken or farm manure, nettles or your own urine (I do all of the latter, and try never to buy things I can make myself)

that's it! best of luck

 

thanks time charger, thats good advice abt the nettles, i have a fair few of them to get rid of, so that suits me fine!