Selwyn Times: January 24, 2018

6
32 Wednesday [Edition datE] January 24 2018
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Making your own compost
Composting is easy and a great way to
transform garden waste and kitchen scraps
into nutrient rich material that can be spread
around the garden.
Whether you purchase a compost tumbler
or bin, construct a wooden structure perhaps
using recycled pallets or simply create a pile
in an out of the way place in your garden, the
exercise of making compost can involve as
little or as much work as you desire.
For best results, the object is to create layers
of organic materials such as grass and pruned
clippings, leaves and household scraps,
sprinkling the odd thin layer of soil to help the
compost along. Even a less scientific approach
will produce reasonable mulch if left for a
sufficient period of time to break down.
Household waste that can be composted
includes: kitchen scraps; coffee grinds; teabags;
small amounts of dairy product; paper towels;
Composting provides free mulch for your garden.
A worm farm is ideal for composting kitchen scraps.
shredded paper, newspaper or cardboard;
cooked pasta and rice; dust; stale bread and
cereal; nutshells; hair and pet fur; ash; and old
wool or 100% cotton items.
The following method can be used for
making compost:
1. Layer pruned branches and twigs over the
bottom of the compost area, directly onto the soil.
2. Distribute a layer of wet and dry organic
materials and kitchen scraps over the
branches and twigs.
4. Spread over an occasional layer of
manure, blood and bone, or seaweed, adding
lime if there is a large amount of acidic
material like fruit scraps or pine needles.
5. Cover the compost with an old rug or
blanket to retain the heat and water from
time to time.
6. If using an enclosed container, it is good
to turn the mix weekly.
As kitchen scraps can attract vermin, it
is better to compost these in an enclosed
container or via a worm farm. The latter will
provide a wonderful nutrient rich, liquid
manure. Do not feed the worms peelings and
scraps from onion, citrus, dairy products,
garlic, greasy meat, fat, spicy food, processed
foods like sauces and canned food, any green
waste that has been sprayed with pesticides
or weed killer, non-biodegradable items, or
poisonous plants.
Items such as meat, pet litter, seed heads,
green waste that has been sprayed with
herbicides or pesticides, and plants that
could sprout, are also better not composted
and instead put in the red bin.
Composting household waste reduces
pressure on landfill sites and is easy to make,
providing you with lots of free mulch for
your garden. Add the green matter and let
the tiger worms do the rest.
Wooden bins are ideal for composting.
A compost bin can be made from recycled pallets.
Sharon CroftS
LandSCape d e S ign
• Consultations • Design Concepts • Planting Plans
P. 329 6229
M. 0274 311 558
s-crofts@xtra.co.nz
www.sharoncrofts.co.nz
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