Composting tips for late autumn and early winter
Late autumn is a great time of the year to pile up your compost as we have our last grass cuts of the year, prune our shrubs and bushes and rake up all the leaves that fall off our trees.
It's important that once you start composting, you continue to compost all year round. Autumn is especially a good time of year to keep composting as there is a great deal of nutrient-rich waste, which could all be thrown into the bin and left to compost through autumn and winter, ready for the spring bloom.
Bigger is better
The more you put into your compost bin, the better your compost will be. Excess autumn grass cuttings and prunings will give you lots of waste and lots of nutritious compost in spring.
The weather will turn
During the frosty autumn and winter months, give your compost a 'turn' (mix with a stick) about every two weeks - this will give it some air, which helps the rotting process.
Brrrrrrright ideas
Late autumn and winter can be cold, so cut down on your trips to the garden by keeping more than one kitchen caddy to collect your kitchen waste - these caddies are covered meaning you only have to empty them into your compost bin once a week.
Leaf it in the shed
If you have too many leaves to put into your compost bin, put what you can't fit in into a bin bag, make a few holes in the bag and leave in a corner of your garden or shed - they will rot down and be a great compost addition in a few months' time.
Use a lawnmower to pick your leaves up - this shreds the leaves and helps the compost process.
Shelter your bin
Autumn can be wet, so try to shelter your compost bin in the dry part of your garden. Don't worry about wet weather though as moisture speeds up the composting process. During the colder autumn and winter months, you can put a cover over your compost bin to keep it warm and help it mature.
