Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

I would use it as mulch but wouldn't mix it with compost. If it is on the surface and open to air exchange then there are no real problems but if you mix it into the soil then it may rob nitrogen from the surrounding soil. This might not be a massive problem if used as a mixed mulch with compost...

I would dilute it 50% and use it on fruit and veg. Most of the home-made feeds, comfrey, nettle, etc., smell disgusting, so I wouldn't worry about the smell.

Take up fishing for perch.......

I find it a little bit of a pain, personally. The ratio of green/brown/twiggy material has to be just right or it stinks to high heaven. And the bottom compartment has a tendency to fall off if its over full.I find emptying it pretty unpleasant, but that may be because my ratios aren't quite...

Remove any roots and shred the rest - it shouldn't then be a problem in the compost heap/box.

Thank you! The OH is obsessed with the Annabelle's so didn't want to disturb them!

I have two open piles for my compost heaps, I never turn them or chop anything. They never get warm and take a couple of years to rot down. I do, when I think about it, sprinkle a handful of compost activator over them. Garrota, other brands available.

I've weighed out 5 grams and its pretty much a level spoonful of the spoons that come with Chempak. Got a 5 litre can.

Thank you @infradig and @Allotment Boy.Interesting about Tomorite tomato feed in the trial. I wish I could recall which tomato feed I used that killed a shrub rose. I remember not having time or patience to measure the dosage properly and by the next day it was curtains. Before then it was my...

@infradig Most of the compost will be coming from containers that housed failed/poor attempts at broad beans, carrots, broccoli and strawberries. Fortunately no blight on last year's crop of potatoes.

Woodchip used as a path breaks down in 2-3 years, at which point it may be spread on to beds with/as compost for autumn application, thereby giving soil a barrier for planting through in the following Spring. Replace with new chip.

If you have the chemicals already to hand and know the appropriate rate to apply them, then do so by combining them in a known volume of water. Stir until fully dissolved. For example if it says 50gm/sq mtr of Fe3So4 plus 25gm Nh3So4/sqmtr plus 20ml Seaweed extract to 10 litres of water. If you...

Immediate problems of a bureaucratic nature viz land use/holding registration/movement restrictions and ability to move away /back for same reasons unless OP is to eat them as part of self sufficiency; then another raft of regulation regarding slaughter/disposal of offal and waste etc.

I don't think she has posted since storm Eowyn hit. Ominous but I hope she's well.

went to ask about this myself, so glad you already haha

Rats that are known/believed to have died from poison should not be composted; otherwise they can be readily added to the heap without regard. Best if the heap reaches 'effective' temperature, (50 deg C is sufficient)

Adding shredded or simply ripped up paper is the easiest way to balance a wet compost. Any non-shiney paper will do so newspapers, envelopes, egg/fruit/mushroom cartons and cardboard.We add far more than we used too and it’s really improved the consistency and speed of our compost.

Good stuff. Thanks very much.

Yes i have noticed this and am ok to apply more compost but my issue is always that the compost can only be applied to the surface so im never sure as to whether nutrients in any newly applied compost will actually get to the roots

£3.39 for a 30 ltr bag puts it more expensive than a lot of potting compost plus £8 delivery. I dont think they want small orders, so why put it into such small bags?