- The right substrate for the compost
- Prepare soil for compost
- How to build up the compost correctly
- Floor grid to protect against rats and mice
Composting is not only worthwhile for financial reasons - you can't do anything better for the garden from an ecological point of view either. Planting a compost is not that difficult if you plant it on a good substrate and in a favorable location.
A compost heap is best placed on bare ground
The right substrate for the compost
Whether you set up a compost bin or a traditional composter in the garden - the right substrate plays an important role. It is always placed directly on the ground - without a base plate.
Good compost is only produced if the microorganisms that are required to decompose the garden waste can migrate from the soil into the composter. Therefore, you must never place the composter on slabs or any other solid surface.
If the surface is bare, the moisture produced by decomposition and rain can drain off easily. If the compost material gets too wet, it rots. The compost stinks and can only be used after a long time.
Prepare soil for compost
Once you have found a good spot for the compost, clear the soil of weeds and remove stones and other thickening.
Loosen up very solid loamy soils with the digging fork and mix the substrate with sand or gravel.
How to build up the compost correctly
If the compost is set up again, fill in coarsely chopped material as the bottom layer, such as:
- branches and twigs
- tree bark
- hedge trimming
- chopped flower and perennial stems
The individual parts should not be longer than 20 cm.
Next, toss a few scoops of mature compost onto the bottom layer. Alternatively, add compost starter to the compost.
Floor grid to protect against rats and mice
If you fill the compost correctly, i.e. do not use cooked food, meat and sausage waste or leftovers, the risk of pest infestation is low.
If you want to be absolutely sure that you do not want to attract pests such as rats and mice to the compost, you can place a grating with holes that are not too small on the bottom of the composter.
tips
Only small amounts of leaves from trees such as walnut trees may be composted. It is best to create a second compost for such foliage.