How To Make & Use Compost

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Home composting acts as both a handy waste disposal for any household, and a useful and inexpensive fuel supply for the garden. It is straightforward to get going, economical and can work well in any size garden or outdoor space. So take a look through our guide.

By Sacha Markin

Why Compost?

Composting transforms your kitchen and garden waste into the perfect organic food for your garden by returning important nutrients and minerals to your soil.

Finished compost is great for using on flowerbeds, vegetable plots, mixing into planters and can really make your garden bloom.

Compost is packed with nutrients any garden will love, and it helps improve soil condition, maintain moisture levels, and keep your soil's PH balance in check while helping to suppress plant disease. It will have everything your plants need including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and it will help buffer soils that are very acidic or alkaline.

And it's environmentally friendly - the ideal way of recycling a lot of every day waste. Did you know around 40% of the average household's bin contents are suitable for composting at home? So it helps cut down on landfill, which is major source of pollution, too.

Where To Site Your Compost

The ideal compost is easily accessible, but most people will want to choose a spot that is not too prominent. A semi-shaded position is best, where it can be kept moist, fairly well contained and where it can be turned easily. If the compost pile dries out it could slow the whole process down, but a little sun is required to generate the decomposition process.

If there are trees near the compost pile you might find that their roots will be attracted towards the pile, so avoid this if possible. Compost heaps should be moist but not wet, so protect from excessive rain.