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Compost heaps and leaf mould

Hi.  Just wondering if anyone out there is still adding to their compost heaps/bins and leafmould piles?

I read that things do not break down in colder weather and so have stopped putting stuff in the plastic compost bin.  I don't want to end up with a bin full of un-rotted veg at the beginning of the warmer weather.  Am I right to be doing this? 

 Also, when I looked in the bin there was a lot of fluffy white mould round the edges.  Is this because it is cold and damp and should I add some paper/cardboard now and leave it alone?

Are there any good links for composting around?

All help and advice gratefully received!!!!!!

 

December 21st is a great day - the sun starts to come back to us and spring is in the air!

  • I've been adding to mine all through the winter. I do put a lot of shredded paper in there to soak up the moisture and it always comes out fine when i empty them out and sieve it ready to put on the garden.

  • i have 4 bins on rotation and it all goes in all the year round ..tea bags spud peelings etc etc as soon as the sun gets on the bins it ll speed up the process ..just a warning one year i opened up one bin to be suprised by 4 rats eeeeeek ... scared the life outta me now i always kick the bins before opening them

  • Yes, we get rats around too.  They are either after the compost or the chicken food.  As long as they stay at the bottom of the garden I don't mind too much.  But I agree - it would be 'eeeek' if I found one in the bin!

    I'll start to compost again then.  Any ideas on the mould?

    December 21st is a great day - the sun starts to come back to us and spring is in the air!

  • Unknown said:
    Any ideas on the mould?

    Hi Pepa,

    Is your bin designed to allow good aeration?

    Mould can be a problem where there is a lack of aeration. I would suggest, if feasable, that you give your compost a good turning over with a garden fork.

    "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake