To compost or not to compost that is the question

Hi All,

I've a 'spare' patch of ground down one side of my bungalow. It is constantly in shade and 'cold' - or at the most 'cool' in the midst of Summer.

I'm thinking of purchasing a couple of plastic composters - they will sit directly onto bare soil.

I know that the waste in the composter needs to be warm before its starts to degrade - so am I wasting my time/money - as the compost bins will be constantly in shade and will never benefit from being heated by the sun?

Thanks Chris (ex Morrisons shopper )

 

It'll heat up from the bacterial process in the spring, so should be ok

'Be ot or bot ne ot, tath is the nestquie.

Shakespeare in anagrams

 

I have a plastic one in mostly shade and I covered it in green bubble-wrap, get some lovely compost which I use for seeds and potting on. I do put browns & greens in layers.
Hope this helps.

 

Our compost heaps are in permenant shade... In fact, when I think about it, they have always been, wherever we have lived. As zigs said, they work with the heat of the decomposition, so out of sight in a dark corner is a perfect place!


And "YES!! Compost!!", in answer to your question!

 

I'd be lost without a compost bin in my garden. How big is your garden clanless?

 

Never measured it - imagine a 3 bed bungalow - its about 3 times the area of the bungalow at the back and 1 at the front. Composting mostly grass cuttings, some trimmings and annuals - brown bin used for garden waste is always full. I read somewhere that 3 composters are needed to ensure a constant supply.

 

I have one plastic bin plus an open bin made from stakes and wire netting, when the plastic one gets low just pop in some from the open one. Urine in the open one helps the compost process.

 

Male urine is preferable to female as it is less acidic.
I would be careful with the grass cuttings as too many will just turn to mush,

as @john558 says get your mix of greens and browns correct.