Five spring composting jobs to keep your heap tip top

While the composting process does slow down during the dormant winter period, the organic material at the bottom of your compost pile will have been steadily maturing and you might be surprised to find some lovely crumbly compost there, ready to use. This is the ideal time to add this fresh compost to your growing beds to increase microbial life in and enhance the health of your soil as well as to supress those keen spring weeds. As the organic matter in the compost continues to break down it will also add structure to the soil and aid water and nutrient retention, perfectly preparing your veg beds for the growing season ahead. 

You may have neglected your compost bin over the winter months. Excess moisture over the wetter winter and lack of balance of materials often means that compost bins can be quite soggy at this time of year. A good turn can introduce some air and aerobic bacteria to the pile which will help break down the organic material more quickly. If things are really wet, you might also want to add some carbon rich ‘brown’ material to restore a healthy balance.

If you had a good clear up in the garden in the autumn, you’ll hopefully have stockpiled those excess autumn leaves and dying plant material ready to mix with the fresh spring growth that you’ll now be regularly collecting and adding to your heap. It’s advisable to leave the garden clear up for as long as possible into the spring as the old stems, stalks and seedheads provide essential overwinter habitats and food for garden wildlife. If this was your tactic, the dry, dead material from last year’s growth can now gradually start to be removed from around the new growth and added to the compost bin as and when needed to get the balance right. If you’re short of carbon rich ‘browns’ from the garden, shredded paper, scrunched up newspaper or cardboard can be added to soak up excess moisture and add air to your heap.

If the composting process has not got going, or your heap is full of dead, dry plant material and not enough ‘greens’, you may want to consider activating your compost bin. If it’s warm and dry enough for you to have started mowing your lawn, the grass cuttings will provide a nitrogen fix and get things going. Farmyard manure is also an excellent activator but ensure you know the source of the manure. Ideally the livestock that produce it will have been raised organically but also check for worming medication and antibiotic intake as these can be detrimental to the composting process. Another great way to activate your compost is by pre-treating your food scraps with Bokashi fermentation, which when added to your compost bin will inoculate it with effective microorganisms and supercharge the composting process.

Springtime weather can fluctuate and just when you think the warmer temperatures are here to stay, a nighttime frost can surprise you. It can also be unpredictably wet or dry during the spring months, so to optimise moisture and heat levels, it’s a great idea to cover your compost heap. A good layer of straw or cardboard at the top of your pile will provide insulation and maintain higher temperatures and the microbial activity below. A plastic covering (ideally something recycled) or a lid will keep the moisture in if it’s dry and the excess rain out if it’s very wet, so the compost maintains the right level of dampness.