Autumn is the perfect time to feed your compost heap. Here's how to keep it breaking down.
Created by jflgardens.co.uk
Autumn piles a mountain of leaves, spent plants and prunings onto the heap, and it is the perfect chance to give the compost a helping hand. A well-balanced, well-tended heap stays warm and breaks things down through the cold, giving you rich compost by spring.
Layer the green material you have — grass clippings, kitchen peelings and plant trimmings — with the autumn browns such as dry leaves, stems and torn cardboard. A good mix of green and dry keeps the heap active and free of odour, so it rots evenly.
Shred or chop the larger material so it has more surface area and rots down faster. Add it in even layers, and if the heap slows, turn it once or twice to give air back to the mix so it keeps breaking down.
A compost heap works best when kept damp, like a wrung-out sponge. Water it in dry spells and cover it in heavy rain, and the composting process will stay warm and steady right through the winter.
Compost keeps working slowly through the cool months even if you let it rest, so there is no need to move it constantly. By the middle of spring, the rich, crumbling compost is ready to spread and feed the whole garden.
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