Compost: How does it work?

Ask a simple question…get a long answer! Compost is a miraculous, complex and ultimately essential weapon in the armoury of the organic gardener, and while the stuff itself seems simple if not crude, the nourishment it gives your garden is the product of an intricate reaction, a miracle of biodiversity. The combination of decomposing matter and the moisture/warmth of the environment allows the development of a universe of microscopic cultures that can produce vital nutrients for your plants over time. Achieving the right balance of factors to maximise fertility in your compost is a knack developed over years of composting experience. While your regional climate, garden size and other factors can affect the approach you need to take to composting you will need to carefully consider the needs of your plants the chemical balance required to offer them the healthiest and effective compost you can.

Bacteria are the key to all the wonderful benefits compost can offer your garden. These microscopic critters get to work on eating your leftovers even if they go straight in the bin- however you can make the situation perfect for them by keeping the right kinds of foods (for bacteria) in your compost bin. The magic transformation they kick start hinges on their digestion, and the…ahem, broken down matter they leave behind.

There are actually a lot of creatures eating away at your compost- but the most important ones are bacteria, specifically the small (even by the standards of microscopic bacteria!) ones who first tuck in when you start composting. These tiny heroes will raise the temperature of your compost with their activity and the gas they release, and this attracts larger and larger specimens to tuck into your heap- eventually worms, insects and fungus will also arrive. All of these will contribute to raising the temperature and breaking down the solids. Some compost heaps can get up to 60 degrees Celsius!

Location:

Drainage, odour, sunlight, surface and space are all things you will need to consider when picking a location for your compost heap. Light and moisture are especially important to the development of bacteria that will add the maximum nutrients to your compost. It is vital that your compost remains warm but is not too hot- so a shady spot on soil is ideal, this will prevent sunlight from heating the heap too much in summer and drying it out, while situating it on soil will allow excess water to drain and prevent mould.

Meat, bones, and things that might carry dangerous bacteria shouldn’t be composted.

Carbon Nitrogen:

The two fuels that keep the bacteria going and

You also need to keep your compost heap topped up with nitrogen-rich green materials: cuttings and trimmings from your garden, grass being a perfect example. Avoid using too much, as this can lead to an unpleasant release of ammonia gas- while add too little and the bacteria may not be able to speed the process of decomposition by increasing temperature.

Oxygen:

Mix your compost regularly with a fork or spade to add oxygen: this is a crucial ingredient for them to do their work. Too little oxygen will lead to anaerobic decomposition (while the kind we want is anaerobic) and this will both smell bad, and slow the process. 

Looking to give your garden a boost? Order compost from our range of potting, peat & mushroom composts with fast delivery and save money, time and effort.

We all love the idea of producing our own compost, recycling our waste to sustainably help our gardens grow. However there is a flipside to this undertaking- so would you be better off buying your compost bagged and ready to go?

It’s a complex process!

Composting is a slow process and a long term commitment. It’s also more complicated than it may at first seem. Depending on the plants you want to grow you may need to restrict what you compost, or otherwise try to keep certain compostable products separate. You don’t just need one compost bin, you may require several. Once the process of composting has set in, you may need to consider creating a rota. Three simultaneous heaps maturing at different stages of decay may begin to seem like overspill.

Space

Not everyone enjoys a garden large enough to accommodate one or more compost bins. While they can be small, you may also need to consider other factors like convenience, light, odour, hygiene and how much space you’ll be left for planting.

Wildlife

You may need to take steps to protect your compost from local pests. Birds and insects may start to appear, which may become a nuisance if you already have pets. Fungus can grow and hygiene in your garden may deteriorate, posing a risk to young children. Newts, toads and spiders can move in, and if these bother you- you may want to reconsider.  

The smell!

This one’s a bit awkward, but if you have a small garden, the odour of compost can sometimes become a little…off putting, particularly if you live close to your neighbours. Needless to say this is especially bad in summer, and you may need to hold your nose as you harvest your veg!

Why order compost online? The advantages of a bulk compost delivery might surprise you!

Bulk compost suppliers put cheap compost just a click away

Warm season planting as over for many of us, and that means we’ve done our composting for now. But gardens (and gardeners) are always in a balance between the now and the future, rejoicing at the colour and life arriving each spring, while also thinking six months ahead. For some, this could mean rethinking old gardening practices, such as how we buy our compost.

Why buy compost for sale online?

Not so long ago there was a widespread scepticism about buying anything online. Not so any more. Just about every high-street shop offers some or all of their products for sale online, from groceries to computers to cars, and for gardeners this shopping revolution has changed the game- the sheer variety of seeds, plants, information and gardening accessories now available is staggering. Instead of the four or five varieties of, say, fruit tree available at the local garden centre, gardeners can pick from a selection and get it delivered to their door. Of course, for most of us this change is old news, but in some cases gardeners could be missing out on the great savings of time, money and effort that come with getting compost delivered to your door.

The cheapest compost delivered in the UK

Of course most good bulk compost suppliers will deliver, however with our compost to buy online, you can easily get smaller amounts for the back garden- all arriving at your garden at your convenience. This saves you the time and effort (and car cleaning) associated with making a big compost-haulage trip of your own, and of course that’s all time that can be better spent tending to the garden! But the unexpected benefit of this method is the money saved- as a trusted national supplier of compost, The Compost Shop works hard to keep prices down. Garden centres and hardware stores have costs we simply don’t, and little competition for local gardeners’ custom, so getting the best deal has always been tricky. With the Compost Shop you can depend on getting the very best value. We’re trusted by gardeners from every corner of the country- when you buy compost direct from us, you’re buying that trusted reputation too.

Discover the benefits of cheap compost delivered to your door with The Compost Shop!

With a huge variety, friendly, flexible delivery on orders and the cheapest prices around, we’re proud to be the UK’s top supplier of online compost. We deliver all kinds of compost, as well as plenty of extras for your home and garden. 

Compost Tea: What is it and can I use it?

Compost Tea: What is it and can I use it?

The trend of using liquid extract from compost to fertilise your plants is becoming more widespread, but the so called ‘compost tea’ is not free from controversy. Here is a brief introduction to compost tea.

1. The ‘tea’ is not, in fact, a ‘tea’-

Well, obviously. But ‘tea’ implies certain qualities, namely that there is an infusion, or essence which is mixed or brewed into water. And while many qualities of the solid compost might filter into the tea, the valuable fertility-enhancing quality, or at least some of it, does not. This is because the microorganisms in compost tea that decay and enrich your garden are those who dwell in water, not on the solid matter which will remain. Unlike a tea which captures the ‘essence’ of the infused plants, compost tea contains only the nutrients & living organisms that can transfer to water.

       2. Storage-

Compost tea does not store well. The breakdown of organic matter requires oxygen which, as we all know, is not abundant in water. Anaerobic decomposition (decomposition without oxygen) can produce a finished product rich great & valuable stuff like compost leachate, which has a variety of beneficial uses distinct from tea, but also risks harming plants if applied directly (see Bokashi Juice on this topic).  

3. Use with care-

Compost tea is a versatile & quick way to give your plants an extra nutrient boost. However it is not its own substance- rather it’s a diluted blend of whatever was in the compost to begin with. This means that some non-plant composts can deliver unbalanced or unhealthy chemicals into the tea, without the added nutrition of solid compost. High nitrogen, manure-based compost will produce high nitrogen tea, and this could potentially burn plants if too much is used. Rather than some magic potion that will nurture your plants indefinitely, the tea will be a diluted blend of what’s already in the mix. The content of the tea will depend entirely on the composition of your compost- bear this in mind as you mix your tea. It is also work diluting tea for plants that are not in urgent need of extra nutritional help.

4.The benefits of compost tea-

Compost tea is versatile & useful for assisting weak plants. If used correctly it can help development quickly and without depleting your stocks of ready-to-use solid compost- most of us don’t have the space for extensive composting. If you do your research and take care not to overuse, you might find your plants come back stronger & healthier than in previous years.