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Help - composting virgin !

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  • #1

    Help - composting virgin !

    Urgent advice required before my husband blows a fuse ! Suffering from composting info overload here, so will simply ask.
    We have a pile of grass clippings rapidly heating up - what is the best thing to do with them? We have some wood chips, but will they rot down too slowly to mix with grass ? I have access to shredded paper - would that be a better thing to mix in with them ?
    We will have LOADS of grass clippings over the summer, so we need an organised plan of what to do with them. All the young trees and bushes have already been mulched - could we do it again ? Can they go directly on the vegetable garden ? I will be planting cabbages and leeks shortly - could I put grass on the soil first ?
    In anticipation - thank you.
    Last edited by roosky; 27-04-2011, 09:57 AM.
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  • #2
    Multiply layers work best. Too much grass and it will go smelly and squidgy. Layer it with shredded paper and cardboard, veg peelings etc, old compost etc. You need to get air in there as well to help with the process.

    Hope this helps.

    Dave

    p.s. Try and watch Monty (gardeners world) on I-player from last week. He did a 5 min feature on his own compost heaps. Perfectly explained!
    Last edited by dave_norm_smith; 27-04-2011, 01:08 PM.
    Fantasy reminds us that the soul is sane but the universe is wild and full of marvels

    http://thefrontyardblog.blogspot.com/

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    • #3
      Just read you post, thank goodness for that.
      When I saw the title I thought we had a 'Green' devil worshipper on the site.

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      • #4
        Mmm .... must confess, hadn't thought of it that way, but you never know ..... !!

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        • #5
          Will do - thanks for that, Dave.
          Can you tell me also if I can put the grass directly on to the vegetable garden ?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by roosky View Post
            if I can put the grass directly on to the vegetable garden ?
            Yes you can, but in thin layers. I use it as a mulch on spuds & onions (make sure you water the ground first, so the moisture gets trapped in the soil where you want it)
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              you can also use it to de-grass any areas you may want to use to grow in next year. Stick a biit of cardboard down in the shape you want a bed, cover it with a thick layer of grass clippings.
              I've also used it round the hopefully soon to be raspberry-bushes sticks, and around the herbs, rosemary, sage, thyme, basically around everything i don't want weeds growing in. Keeps most of them down, but the odd one still grows...

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              • #8
                Thanks for that. I wasn't sure if I might be putting too much nitrogen on things that didn't want it, but it looks like I can more or less put it anywhere ! Have already put it on the tatties (and blackcurrants in autumn), and will now feed the rasps !

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                • #9
                  If you have some left over, after all the above, and want to compost it; the best thing to layer it with is fresh manure (Horse/Cow/Pig). Cut grass heats up considerably, and in my experience, if it is left in thick layers it will turn to ash inside, so be careful where you store it.
                  Last edited by Glutton4...; 30-04-2011, 05:35 PM.
                  All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                  Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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