Figuring out how much compost you need can be tricky at times.  And to be honest it’s not always fun doing all the calculations yourself.  And because I know you’re a very busy gardener, I’ve created this compost calculator so you can estimate the quantity of lovely organic compost you need for that new shrub! …

Now that you’ve got some fabulous finished compost, can you fathom the different amounts of compost you need for every gardening situation? This can get pretty confusing at times. What if you need to add an inch, two, or four inches? How do you figure out the amount of compost you need? And what if…

Water is one of the four essential ingredients for successful composting.  Enough H2O in a pile will help compost microorganisms break down organic wastes.  The trick is getting the moisture level just right! Too little, and the microorganisms will struggle to work; too much, and they’ll be starved of oxygen. In the following article, I’ll…

​If you’re thinking of lugging around some large quantities of compost, it can be helpful to know how much it’s going to weigh. However, the weight of compost varies according to its moisture content. The wetter the compost, the heavier it becomes. Commercially sold compost has variable levels of moisture depending on the season. Therefore,…

Compost bins come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Some of them have many holes, but others have none at all. And if you’re building a DIY bin, you could be left scratching your head wondering whether or not to put holes in it! But what are these openings for, and do you…

I only learned about ericaceous compost recently when I started to get interested in blueberry plants. Confused ? So was I at first. But it’s really not that complicated. In this article I’ll explain everything you need to know about ericaceous compost, what it is, which plants need ericaceous compost, how to make it, and…

You look confused ! And I totally understand… In the gardening world, the proper use of compost and fertilizers can be bewildering. But in a few minutes all will become clear ! I’m going to explain the essential differences between fertilizers and compost. So next time you meet your gardening pals you can astound them…

When I first started composting, one of my biggest concerns was that it would stink. But by following the right composting rules, you can have an odor-free compost bin without much difficulty. Does compost smell? A correctly maintained compost bin shouldn’t give off much odor. If you find your compost smells strongly like ammonia, rotting…

As a keen gardener you probably already understand the importance of knowing the pH of your soil. But what about the pH of your compost? How does the pH of compost affect the plants you grow? After all, if the pH of your soil is too high or too low, it can literally kill your…