Garden Compost - the easy way to make your own home compost

Many gardeners are put off making their own compost because they think it's too difficult or they've tried before and ended up with a smelly, soggy heap of half rotten grass cuttings. And whilst there are many different variations for composting your garden waste, if you follow these few basic rules you'll find that making your own garden compost becomes virtually fool proof.

Most garden waste that you want to convert to compost can generally be divided into brown material or green material. Brown material is the woody stuff like dried leaves, dried plant stems and grasses but don't use tree prunings unless you put them through a shredder first. They take far too long to break down, 

Green material is fresh garden waste such as grass trimmings, weeds, green leaves that are soft and moist. Avoid using plant material that is diseased or weeds that are invasive, such as dandelions, horsetails, couch grass, bind weed etc.  Food waste from the kitchen can also be classified as greens material but avoid adding meat, fat or grease as this can attract pests such as rats and flies. 

Here's how to start making your own good garden compost.

•  Start by gathering as much brown and green material as you can find. The more the better. If you only have small amounts you can store it in a heap or in plastic bags until you have enough to make a reasonable size heap. Large heaps tend to heat up and compost quicker because they hold onto moisture better and don't dry out as quickly as small piles.
• If you only have small quantities then use a purpose made compost bin. It keeps things tidy and your garden waste quickly rots down as the walls trap the heat inside. For larger amounts use a bigger container at least 1.2 x 1.2m/4f x 4ft, with wooden slatted sides for storing your compostable material. You can build your own container or buy a ready made one, or just pile it up in a sheltered spot.
• Add new materials in 15cm/6in layers keeping a good mix of brown and green waste. Too much green waste and the heap will turn to sludge. Too much brown and it won't rot down properly. You should end up with roughly equal amounts of browns and greens. But don't worry too much about these proportions as long as you've got a good mixture of different materials.
• Firm down each layer well and keep moist by covering with an old carpet or something similar. If the material is very dry then water with a hose pipe before covering. the material should be uniformly damp and not completely saturated. Keep adding to your pile until the container is full.
• If you have some manure available then add this to your layers as this will help speed up the rotting process. Once the container is full cover with carpet, old cardboard or plastic to keep the rain off. Don't add new material even when it sinks down. Just leave until ready.
• For quick compost ready in 1-3 months chop materials into small pieces. Alternate 6in layers of brown and green materials. Turn the pile at least once, preferably twice. You can do this by tipping it out of the bin and putting it back or having two large bins and tossing the material from the full bin into the empty one. (Hard work, but you won't need to go to the gym). Alternatively you can buy a rotary bin that can be turned easily by hand as often as you like.
• For slower garden compost made in 3-6 months simply keep adding materials to the pile or bin and sprinkling with water to keep it moist. When the bin or heap is completed cover and leave for 3 months or 6 months in winter.
• If the heap or bin gets a bit smelly just turn it and add more brown stuff. If it's too dry and rotting has stopped add water and some green stuff to get it going again. If it's attracting flies, just stir it up and add some leaves or grass and cover tightly.
• When you compost is finished it should be rich and crumbly and sweet smelling. Use your homemade garden compost to enrich your soil ready for planting. Spread a 5cm/2in layer under fruit trees and bushes as a spring mulch to suppress weeds and help retain soil moisture.

Garden compost not only adds organic matter to your soil but it improves its texture and water holding properties so that the ground doesn't dry out too fast. It also creates tiny air pockets that allows excess water to drain away and plant roots to spread out more easily. It's great stuff and every garden needs it. So if you want to grow lots of fine, healthy plants and save some money just keep on making your own garden compost.