Composting in Autumn/Winter?

My compost bins are getting quite full now but am I ok to continue to fill them to the top now the weather is getting colder or leave them and let them do their stuff over winter?

 

Thanks John, I will get OH to check the bottom of them (nasty job for men LOL)

 

I usually do what JWK does - dig out the good stuff by the end of October and put it in sacks (which get exceptionally heavy!). This clears out space ready for the discarded annuals, etc.

But I tend to spread my good stuff between Christmas and the New Year, weather permitting. This lets the worst of the winter (Jan to March) help break it down into the soil. Mind you, "the worst of the winter" down here isn't very cold at all these days.

 

I'm lucky as one of my bins only has a little bit in the bottom so I can still use that whilst the other is doing its thing. That reminds me I should go and look in it and give it a mix about

 

We compost over a two year cycle, apart from our worm bins that we half empty about twice a year.

Our main compost heap is a two compartment - two year cycle, heap. In year one it gets built from about October and then in the following October is turned over into the second compartment. This leaves (in compartment two) the fresher stuff on the bottom and a nice layer of one year old stuff on the top in which we sow spuds. The second year heap is then emptied in October and either put into sacks for spring use or spread on the garden, leaving it empty for filling with stuff from compartment one.

 

Ive got two compost bins, so I fill one for about 12 months let it do its biz, then start filling the other. 02

 

If compost heaps are to achieve a decent composting temperature they should be filled all at once, to do this store it in bags until you have enough to build the heap building it up in in dribs and drabs will allow the heaps to eventually rot down but it will not reach a sufficient temperature to kill most of the weed seeds and the process of decomposition will be slower.

 

walnut,

I understand the theory but not the practicalities,

Grass clippings start heating and decomposing once in a heap or bag and are the best source for heating compost. How do you stop them decomposing while building up a supply of other materials.

 

HBC said

Keep the bulk down or mix them with other material,if you put too much on in one go it tends to go slimey.

 

W,

I think that means you are building up the compost pile as grass clippings are generated and not in one go.

 

Has anyone ever used sawdust in a compost mix? I have a wood burner and I cut logs with a chain saw. I regularly have bags of sawdust which I take down to the tip. I had considered putting several layers on the compost now and again and wondered if it would help or hinder?

 

Woops!
Ignore my last. I have just seen another thread that discusses this very topic.

 

This is my first year at composting.
I started in August with a new dome shaped bin from the council.
It is full .
I had a look at it yesterday and it looks very wet and slimy.
I have about 6 inches room on the top as it's sinking a bit.
Should I put anything on it to try and dry it out or just leave it until the spring?

 

I would keep adding material. Mines gone slimy at the top too, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

If you have time and energy you could "turn" the whole pile - lift the Dalek off, place along side, mix the original pile and refill the Dalek.