Forum home› Problem solving

Wet Compost

HomemanLLHomemanLL Posts: 19
in Problem solving

I have just upturned my compost bin to mix the waste whish I have been collecting for 12 months adding all kinds of household greens etc and ensuring that I have added thin cardboard etc.I was astonished to see how wet the mixture was, and I can only assume that the rain that we had this winter had made the ground water logged. Yes I did water occsionally, but not that much volume, Please can anyone advise on how I can get the mixture to dry out. The location of the compost bin is at the back of a shed, Which means it lies within a shadow most of the day.

Posts

  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    Why do you want to dry it out exactly?image

    -bit confused-just spread it on the beds-or hasn't it composted down yet??

  • chicachica Posts: 252

    hi if its still wet but has broken down or most of it just spread it on your garden the cold will dry it out or dig it in,thats what i have just done and its ok.so dont worry to much

  • HomemanLLHomemanLL Posts: 19

    I thought it had to dry out like the Bags of Compost that you buy in Garden Centres. It has,nt completly broken down yet, The mixture is cold, I thought i would be warm to touch!.

  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    It heats up as the decomposition process takes place and then cools down-in winter it will never heat up-I would spread any useable stuff on beds-and return the other to the bin to let it it get on with it-in 6 months or so it will be lovely stuffimage

    If the bin doesn't have a cover-cover it with somethingimage

  • Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

    You only need to water the bin if the weather is really dry and your compost looks dry. Even now I just water mine occassionally - usually old beer or cider

    Sometimes you have more success if you have 2 bins one to fill and one 'cooking'. Also it needs to be turned to mix the fresher stuff with the old - aids rotting. Do you layer the compost?

  • HomemanLLHomemanLL Posts: 19

    Yes I do layer the compost, But could the problem also be that the bin is in the shade of a Shed for most of the day? And therefore is short of the sunlight even during this Winter. We have had long sunshine here in Anglesey this week, but the the compost bin has been in the shade of the Shed, Should I move the container to open ground on my allotment?.

    Thank you for your advice and comments, most welcome, I am new to this gardening hobby and love it, bit nieve though. so all advice is welcome. 

  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    If you need compost more at the allotment than in the garden-and it is a naturally warmer spot -then yesimage

  • HomemanLLHomemanLL Posts: 19

    Thanks sotongeoff

Sign In or Register to comment.