Compost and Mulch

Thousands and millions of years is the length of time that compost piles have been around. Thousands of years represent the time-span of accidental and deliberate human participation, as cave dwellers and as early agriculturalists, in composting. Millions of years stands for the composting incidental to animals excreting or regurgitating organic animal and plant matter into species-specific latrines and vomitoria.

because the hep is wet and dry and they contain grass (mostly) and woodlice eat grass so they love the heap

well.. the 1st way means you have to be a bin tycoon, so go somewhere were its really busy and invite everyone to your nest when everyone is in your nest say follow me and go to your plaza and when everyone has gone from your plaza go to Riggs palladium and go to that thing near the weevil post and collect the money if there isn't allot keep trying to get more and more!!!!!

avoid adding meat or milk products turn the pile over at least once a week make sure you add enough dry stuff like straw, sawdust, grass clippings If it smells bad youre not doing it right. It is too cold and wet. Is it in plastic bags?

Yes. But you should crunch them up first.

A compost heap has no lid. But compost containers such as bins indeed have lids. The cover makes it possible for compostable materials to contain smells, discourage unwanted micro-organisms, hide from foraging wildlife, keep low profiles in clean neighborhoods, maintain proper environmental conditions (of light, moisture, temperature), and resist dispersal by winds. It permits composting to take place in shorter composting times since layer-turning takes place in more confined spaces.

It could be a number of reasons. It could be not enough sun, too much nitrogen fertilizer, too soon after a move, or a late frost.

No, diseased, live and treated weeds should not go in a compost bin even though yes, dead weeds can. Weeds that suffer from disease or treatment with herbicides or that still support living parts do not belong in the bin since infections may spread, synthetic materials may pollute compostable materials and viable plants may self-propagate. Dead weeds contrastingly will be compostable if previously "fried" atop exposed metal or within dark, sealed plastic bags.

A compost tumbler is a drum mounted on rollers that has an attached crank thus making the turning of the compost easier. This turning mixes air with the composting material and speeds up the composting process. You can make your own or you can buy one from Compos Tumbler or other gardening companies.

Of course! You can also add Coffee grounds, used tea bags, melon rinds, peelings, corn cobs, egg shells, fruits and vegetables.

everything that came from a plant. avoid adding meat and milk products cos they stink and atract street cats and stray dogs. also avoid dog feces as they may contain diseases. cow and other grass eating animals manure is fine.

old vegetables

Compost has all of the nutrients (micro as well as macro) plants need to grow and thrive, and no harmful chemicals. Food grown naturally using compost is so much better in every way than chemically fertilized plants that many people prefer it, even if it does take a little more work.

To learn how you can make your own compost, go to the Related Link.

You can compost anything organic.. the question is how long will it take.. If that's not an issue and you have the space, then go ahead and through it in the pile. Personally, I'd split the wood and run it through a chipper first... that would get you headed in the right direction. Careful though.. palm is very fibrous and tends to clog chippers...

The smell, the look, the feel and the content tell you whether or not you have quality compost. If proper procedure is followed, then compostable materials will break down into crumbly, dark brown, fresh smelling, nutrient rich organic material. The breakdown will occur if only compostable materials layered into a location that has adequate air, moisture and temperature levels and that allows for regular turning of the entire pile. In fact, the more often the turning takes place, the faster the breakdown takes place. Depending upon the size of the pile, quality compost may be available within a month to a year.

To be frank, I believe that all insects are beneficial to compost, as most bugs that eat organic matter will help break down the contents of your compost pile. Centipedes, millipedes, sowbugs, earwigs, beetles, and of course, earthworms of all stripes are welcome.

Since I live in a small apartment building, I compost on the roof in clear 19 gallon plastic tubs, with the tops cut off, trimmed to fit over the lower part, and onion bag material covering the open spouts to keep insects out, yet oxygen in.

I call these Solar Composters, since the trapped heat of the sun speeds up the decomposing going on inside.

Tubs like these also look attractive anywhere in the vegetable or flower garden. Just remove the bottoms so juices can drain down into the soil and attract and feed our friends, the earthworms.

Add water occasionally to produce extra " juice ".

Theoretically, compostable materials include whatever breaks down with death and decay; doesn't attract scavenging wildlife such as coyotes; and isn't considered a weed or known to be diseased or toxic.

Assistance in decomposition rates and heat control are reasons why straw is used in compost heaps. Straw helps speed up the natural breakdown of carbon- and nitrogen-rich recyclables into dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter. In addition to breaking down quickly, it also helps temperatures rise to the proper heat thresholds required by aerobic composting.

9

there are 9 sq feet in a sq yard. there 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard

No it's better to plant grass around the plant or place rocks around it.

A compost bin is usually square and come in many sizes, but it should have a panel or door at the bottom to access the the compost that is oldest. Since you fill from the top. It can take 3 months or more for the first compost to start degrading.