Truth be told, all organic material will eventually break down on its own. Still, when you’re impatient (yes, you know who you are…), the fastest way to give your precious pile a kickstart is to add a compost accelerator.  Adding a compost starter gives the good bacteria in the pile a supercharge, so they multiply rapidly….

If you’re like me, you love mulch 🙂 It’s essential for any gardener… But have you ever wondered whether last season’s mulch might be past its prime and need replenishment? So what are your options with old layers of mulch in your garden? Can you compost it, or should you dispose of it another way?…

Most keen gardeners are interested in anything that enhances their gardening. Compost and manure are two of the most popular natural ways to nourish your plants.  Both improve soil structure and add beneficial nutrients and microorganisms.  Your garden deserves only the best. So, which is it – compost or manure?  In this article I’ll unpack…

Wood chips are an organic material, and all organic matter rots! But many gardeners are reluctant to use this fantastic source in their composting.  So why do some people not use wood chips in compost, and how can these difficulties be overcome? Let’s find out… Composting Wood Chips  Making wood chips at home is effortless…

I’ve seen people collecting horse manure in parks and local stables with the intention of using it in their gardens. But it makes me wonder whether all gardeners understand how to use substances like manure.  Manures of all kinds are considered beneficial fertilizers. However, throwing it directly on your plants and shrubs is not always…

Mushroom compost and cow manure are two soil supplements containing animal droppings with multiple uses in the garden.  When mature, they both look like rich soil and smell earthy.  But what makes mushroom compost and manure different, and is one better than the other?  Let’s measure these soil nourishers against each other to see if…

You may have heard that urine is good for your plants. And as a compost enthusiast, this may have given you a bright idea! Can you recycle urine and add benefits to your composting process? If so, how should you do it, and are there any dangers when adding urine to compost?  Below I’ll give…

If you’ve ever monitored fingernail clippings, you’ll know they look the same as the day you clipped them, even months later. You might then wonder whether fingernails decompose (and if not, what happens to all the little bits people worldwide keep snipping off their nails?).  The most basic composting rule says you should only compost…

If you’re lucky, your grass just keeps growing. That does, of course, mean you need to spend lots of time mowing.  And you’re stuck with a lawn’s worth of clippings afterward!  Composting is the most beneficial way to recycle grass clippings. But what’s the best way to turn this valuable resource into compost? I’ve got…

Fruit and veg scraps are usually welcomed into compost piles.  They’re one of the most readily available sources of greens – the nitrogen-rich organic wastes essential to successful composting.  However, pineapple is one fruit often singled out for being potentially troublesome in compost.  There are a few reasons many people think twice before throwing pineapple…