Hot tips on composting

• Set the bin on bare soil for drainage.
• Add a mixture of tough and tender stuff.
• The more you put in at once the quicker it composts.
• If lots of stuff is added together, it will probably heat up. 
• It can get as hot as 70 degrees centigrade.
• Don't worry if it’s not hot.
• Compost activators get the composting started.
• Cover it to keep the rain out.
• A soggy, smelly heap needs more tough dry stuff - try putting strips of cardboard in the heap, it soaks up the liquid and puts carbon back into the compost mix.
• A dry heap needs watering.
• Fine, crumbly, lumpy and stringy, all compost can be used.
• Chop up tough stems or smash them with a spade to speed up the composting.  A shredder is a great help.
• For a quicker return, turn the heap now and again.  Empty the bin, mix everything together, adding water, an activator or something dry if necessary then put it all back.
• Compost is good for all soils.  It makes heavy soil easier to work and helps light soil hold water.  It feeds the plants too.
• Use compost in the spring and summer.  Spread on the surface or dig in to the top few inches of soil.
• Composting is quicker in summer.
• Stuff wet leaves into bin lines or a wire cage and use them a year or two later as leaf mould on the garden.