Compost - ditch it all, or only some?

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by Fat Controller, Sep 24, 2012.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2012
    Messages:
    27,996
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Public Transport
    Location:
    At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
    Ratings:
    +52,686
    Slug or snail eggs wouldn't surprise me at all - I shook them all out, and they got binned along with the a load of really poor compost that had gotten mixed with all sorts of rubbish whilst clearing the garden the other day. I don't have a compost bin or heap

    I think I will have to go back to my original plan of buying a few packs of compost each month over the winter, and stack it up ready for the spring - take the hit out of buying it all at once. I take it that it will store outside OK in its plastic bags?
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,844
    Yes, so long as the bags are not ripped or torn any where,FC:coffee:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 11, 2012
      Messages:
      18,607
      Location:
      The Garden of England
      Ratings:
      +31,886
      No!!!!! :nonofinger:

      (Oh, fc, I am soooo disappointed in you! :nonofinger: ) Get yourself a compost bin!!! It needn't be expensive (although some councils do offer a discount on the plastic, darlek kind).
      A compost bin can be constructed from a bit of chicken wire and bamboo canes (at rock bottom prices), or, four pallets (at recycled prices), or, something inbetween (with a bit of imagination!)

      Gardening "compost" should not be an expense, but, an "experience"; one borne of recycling nature's bounty into tomorrow's nutrients!

      I have a tub next to my kettle to "recycle" teabags and coffee grinds; I also compost kitchen paper, freebie newspaper, toilet rolls, junk mail (and chicken/duck bedding/poop), kitchen scraps, cat hair (from grooming), my hair ( from hairbrush), "secret" mail (aka, stuff I do not want put on a public waste disposable site!); school newsletters, work related bumph etc, etc, etc. (grass cuttings; dried weeds; plant disposal etc. )

      Did you see my "bottle garden" thread? I dug out 2 spades deep of rubbish earth and replaced with 2/3rds of a "darlek" compost bin of nutrient rich yummy-ness!!

      You don't qualify as a *real* gardener unless, you have a proper compost heap :heehee:
       
      • Like Like x 3
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 5, 2012
        Messages:
        27,996
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Public Transport
        Location:
        At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
        Ratings:
        +52,686
        Sadly Mum, I just don't have anywhere to put a compost bin or compost heap - at least, not where it wouldn't be bothered by child or dog, or where it wouldn't cause a smell nuisance to us or our neighbours :cry3:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 5, 2012
          Messages:
          27,996
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Public Transport
          Location:
          At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
          Ratings:
          +52,686
          Thanks Armandii - I could wrap them in a tarpaulin to give them a bit of extra protection. What about bags that are opened - will they store over winter in the shed?
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 11, 2012
            Messages:
            18,607
            Location:
            The Garden of England
            Ratings:
            +31,886
            Hmm, I get where you are coming from; however, a "healthy" compost bin does not cause an obnoxious aroma :dbgrtmb: Give a Google, give it some thought ... it can save you ££'s ;)
             
          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jan 12, 2019
            Messages:
            48,096
            Gender:
            Male
            Ratings:
            +100,844
            Usually the problem is not having enough space for gardeners. My Compost Heap was only in one place for around 3 years and then my wife would get me to move it, and then pinch the lovely spot to put her plants in:heehee: But now it is in a corner by the fence backing onto the garage with tarpaulin around the sides and measures roughly 7' x 7' and 8' plus high. But I have never had any problems with it smelling!! Everything decomposable from the House goes on the Heap, along with all the debris from the borders etc.:snork:

            Just noticed your second post.....You can keep opened Compost bags safely in the Shed but it would be wise to place them in a large plastic bag just to keep the bugs out. Then when you use it, use it for potting up where you can check for any unwanted visitors.:coffee:
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Madahhlia

              Madahhlia Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 19, 2007
              Messages:
              3,678
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Suburban paradise
              Ratings:
              +3,090
              What!? You're wasting your toenail clippings? You're not a real gardener unless you compost those, though the jury's still out on whether to clean the polish off first.
               
              • Like Like x 4
              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                Joined:
                May 5, 2012
                Messages:
                27,996
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Public Transport
                Location:
                At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                Ratings:
                +52,686
                I actually did quite a bit of research this time last year when we moved in here - we had gone from a council that took green waste away free to one that not only charged for the wheelie bin to put the stuff into, but also charged annually to take it away! I 'copped the hump' at this, and decided that I would compost it myself, but the more I researched it and the more I tried to think of somewhere to put even a small bin, the more I realised that I couldn't really accommodate one, and it began to look like a whole world of trouble for a relatively small amount of usable compost each year.

                Once I get my shed relocated, that story may well change (indeed, part of the plan is to leave an area near the back of the shed for a compost bin with a water butt on the other side connected to the greenhouse.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Madahhlia

                  Madahhlia Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Mar 19, 2007
                  Messages:
                  3,678
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  Suburban paradise
                  Ratings:
                  +3,090
                  Fat Controller, I buy quite a bit of new compost every year, though I begrudge it from all sorts of viewpoints.

                  You can re-use compost, might as well make that peat extraction worthwhile.
                  However, you have to consider several things, namely, the depletion of nutrients and the possibility of pest/disease/weed build up.

                  I remix mine with new compost, usually chucking in a bit of sand, perlite etc. This does result in a rather weak mix, but OK if I then feed properly.

                  If I have some good homemade stuff handy I'll mix it with that. The plants grow like a rocket but have to compete with a lot of germinating weed seeds.

                  I figure that even if it's had, say, vine weevil in it, if the compost is rested for a season these will be long gone. So i would store in a bag outside, maybe with some organic matter added, and then reuse but being careful to add nutrients back in.

                  If I'm planting seeds or pricking out seedlings I'm much more careful and use clean, fresh stuff, but I figure larger plants can cope with recycled compost.
                   
                  • Like Like x 3
                  • Fat Controller

                    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    May 5, 2012
                    Messages:
                    27,996
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Public Transport
                    Location:
                    At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                    Ratings:
                    +52,686
                    Thanks :)

                    As if to spur me on, we've just got a letter in today's post telling us of 15% off days at Homebase this weekend, and a few vouchers including £5 off when we spend £40 - - guess who will be coming home with 6 x 120l bales of compost at the weekend :cool:

                    That gets me off to a good start, and then all I need to do is get a few more each month through the winter and I am sorted.
                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • ARMANDII

                      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jan 12, 2019
                      Messages:
                      48,096
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Ratings:
                      +100,844
                      As Punch said to Judy...."That's the way to do it"....in a squeaky voice.:heehee:
                       
                      • Like Like x 3
                      • mowgley

                        mowgley Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 16, 2005
                        Messages:
                        3,564
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Wanna be gardener
                        Location:
                        Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
                        Ratings:
                        +6,627
                        I always find that the compost in the sheds at this time of year is better quality than I the spring anyway!
                         
                      • "M"

                        "M" Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 11, 2012
                        Messages:
                        18,607
                        Location:
                        The Garden of England
                        Ratings:
                        +31,886
                        That's interesting ... I've been reading some back posts and the conclusion was just that! Whether down to compaction (eg, Spring sales are compacted pre winter compost) or, an injection of new stock ... there does appear to be a logic behind this!
                         
                      • Loofah

                        Loofah Admin Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Feb 20, 2008
                        Messages:
                        14,166
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Guildford
                        Ratings:
                        +24,815
                        • Like Like x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice