STEP BY STEP Make compost

Collect waste vegetation in a compost heap to make your own soil conditioner or ingredient for a potting mix. Composting depends on soil microbes so make the heap on the ground. The rotting microbes need air, moisture and warmth to work. Use a mix of ingredients. Covering the heap and turning it will speed up the process.

1 COLLECT raw vegetable waste, weed tops before they go to seed, spent compost from pots, torn paper and chopped up trimmings from garden plants to add to the heap. Alter the balance of green and brown material if it’s too wet or dry.

2 MIX grass clippings with coarser green vegetation. Green material supplies the rotting bacteria with nitrogen. As they do their work, the heap heats up.

3 ADD brown material such as leaves, shredded prunings, torn card and paper as these provide aeration and a long term supply of carbon to keep the heap going.

4 FORK into the compost heap to check that it’s uniformly rotted and when ready, use as a mulch around the garden or sieve it for finer use in potting composts.