Thread: Help required starting a compost heap

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Pile them up and then have at them with a normal lawnmower without a catcher. Keep the flap down so it doesn't spray everywhere. Takes seconds.

I don't have a normal lawnmower, just a ride on.

This compost pile is a little different to my normal method, no shredding of mat'ls prior construction, green stuff was grown in situ and leaves raked up from under the Fiddlewood tree.
start comopst pile.jpgfinished compost pile.jpgcompeted hot compost.jpg
The green stuff is sunflowers and millet, I also add in layers of compost, I'll make this sort of pile when the ingredients are clean, (no weed seeds) this type of pile is a slower process, more like 2 months and then turned, the long green stuff can make it difficult to turn the pile if it still has any strength to it, it has to be chopped up as part of the turning process if you get a bit impatient, DAMHIK .
This sort of pile will heat up, the above one didn't reach the 60s and took a few days to get there and probably would perform better if it was a lot bigger but with only a couple of turnings and a bit of time it turned out ok.

With a pile that is light on for N and not shredded like John's pile something else to try to speed up the decomposition is a lot more water (as said) and some form of weight on the top of the pile to compact it down, some boards or something, this might seem to be contrary to the norm, the idea is to bring more leaf surface together and help water retention which then allows the fungi to work, it might only take a week or two until the leaves start to lose the dry stiff crunch and become soft, dark and start to fall apart, the weight could be removed at this point, there might develop a bit of heat during this time especially with the additions of the various manures, if the temp does reach into the 50 to 60s I would turn it and add water if required, more likely tho it will be just warm and the addition of too much water can cool it such that it doesn't heat up again, so maybe just one or two turns (with or without water)?



Pete

I generally follow Pete's compost regime.
My bins are recycled pallet boards 800 x800 sides held together at the corners with zip ties. I can take the front panel off for emptying.
During lawn mowing season the cuttings are mixed with chainsaw / woodturning sawdust & shredded prunings which gets nice & hot, as it cools down it is turned into the next bin with more clippings & sawdust. (the white bag is a contribution from my grand-daughter - used Gerbil bedding). When the hot cycle is over there is still plenty of hard wood chippings & dust and this requires plenty of nitrogen to keep the bacteria working happily.
Leaf mold is collected with the ride-on or leaf blower (sucker/shredder) and kept separate either in bags or bin for a couple of years before use as potting compost.
Mark