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Post by steve on May 22, 2011 14:21:31 GMT
I don't have a recipe, my compost is seasonal. Right now it is layers of daffodil leaves and grass clippings. If I have quite woody stuff I pile it up until grass mowing day, it then gets layered with grass clippings. I don't add soil as there is never any spare. My compost looks good but it is only used as soil improver, I buy stuff for sowing seeds and potting up. My aim is not to have to buy it in. I noted that Monty used Sieved garden compost last night. I'd really like to make my own multi- purpose and be able to sieve it for sowing. I did it a couple of years ago and 'weeded' it in my soil sterilizer. It was only on a small scale but it worked and with excellent results. I heard of a gardener who sterilised his on top of his brazier. Bruv in Law has used an old microwave for sterilising soil
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Post by merlin on May 22, 2011 15:35:46 GMT
Me too Steve, an old one my Sis threw out. Sadly just when I'd got the portions/timing right it gave up on me but it worked a treat. As I recall it did take quite a while to get it really hot though. It's so easy to go and buy a bag but I'm determined to persist so I'll use the old soil heater. It's made by 'Swan' and is probably an antique now.
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Post by sweetpea on May 23, 2011 20:16:22 GMT
You can also use leaf mould as a compost addition, especially for 'Woodland' subjects.
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Post by merlin on May 24, 2011 5:34:42 GMT
Can't get enough leaves.....lovely jubely stuff, I keep most of it separate but I don't mind if it takes a while to decompose in the compost.
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Post by merlin on May 26, 2011 17:31:29 GMT
Some of you have suggested putting tea bags as a mulch around acid lovers. I wonder if I mashed up a load of them to make a compost, would it grow anything. It is after all vegitation so should grow something.
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Post by alisonmarie on Jun 2, 2011 21:08:08 GMT
Mine didn't mulch very well last year took a bit longer I had a man chop a tree down to let more light in this year and now I have a full heap so been adding it to improve the Borders this week .
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Post by merlin on Jun 3, 2011 5:41:37 GMT
AM, Are you saying that you've put the tree mulch down fresh? If so that could leach out Nitrogen from your soil. I do a lot of shredding, bits of pruning also some wood-shavings from the chicken litter though not much. I make quite sure that it's mixed with plenty of lawn clippings ect. and even then I wouldn't put it down as a mulch until well rotted.
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