The compost handbook
Let the heap do the work
A useful heap begins with ordinary garden leftovers, a little observation and room for air. Learn to
balance dry and fresh materials, choose a pace that suits your garden, and read the clues that tell you what to
change. Start with a small trial blend and keep notes.
Put an idea into practice →
Start with the materials
Dry leaves, shredded plain cardboard and small woody prunings give a heap structure. Fresh plant trimmings and
uncooked fruit or vegetable scraps bring moisture and a different nutrient balance. These categories are useful
descriptions, not precise laboratory values: a wet brown leaf behaves differently from a crisp one. Keep a covered
supply of dry material beside the bin so each new addition can be mixed immediately. Break up compact clumps and cut
long stems. Avoid treating the heap as a stack of untouched layers; a mixed handful is a better starting point.
Choose hot or patient
A hot heap is built in a substantial batch and managed actively. A slower heap accepts smaller additions over
time and asks for more patience. Neither method excuses poor drainage or a compressed mass of wet material. Choose
the method you can maintain through a busy week, then compare the heap with its own previous condition. Warmth is
one observation among several, not a prize to chase at any cost. A modest garden can also keep two compartments: one
receives fresh additions while the other finishes without being disturbed by new scraps.
Read moisture and air
Take a small sample from inside rather than judging only the dry surface. Material should feel damp without
releasing a stream of water when squeezed. A heavy, sour-smelling mass often needs more open structure and mixing;
dusty pieces may need water distributed gradually. Add small amounts, mix and inspect again instead of flooding the
bin. A fork opens compacted pockets while larger pieces help preserve spaces between finer material. Keep rainfall
and drainage in mind: a lid can shed persistent rain without sealing the heap into an airtight container.
Know when to wait
Finished material looks more uniform and has lost much of its original shape, though woody pieces may remain.
Sieve those larger pieces back into the next heap. Do not confuse a cooling batch with a completed one: it may
simply need time, moisture or a better mix. Keep troublesome additions out from the start, especially packaging,
treated timber and materials your local collection guidance excludes. If pests become interested, cover fresh food
scraps with dry plant material and inspect the bin's physical condition. Prevention is easier than rescuing an
unsuitable mixture.