When people discuss creating a compost heap, they'll often say to create a 50/50 mix of 'green' and 'brown' materials, ideally meaning a good amount of nitrogen and carbon ingredients, respectively.
While it's tempting to just throw in every handy organic item you know will decompose, Fruit and Vegetables These are high in nitrogen, and you're likely to have plenty of them.
Take your peelings and leftovers from meals and toss them in the heap.
They're fairly quick to decompose, so you'll want to find some equally valuable carbon materials to mix in.
Grass and Flowers Take some cuttings from the live plants, or throw in the entire flower if it's an annual or biennial plant at the end of its life cycle.
These are again high in nitrogen, but represent an easily replenished and sizeable source of materials.
But remember, never throw in weeds, and be sure to check there are no seeds mixed in with your cuttings.
While an un-seeded weed is technically fine to include, the risk of planting seeds in the compost is very significant.
No-one wants to lay down a soil-improving mulch and inadvertently plant a nettle crop.
Paper and Leaves These are both high in carbon and easy to get hold of without spending money, so they make for an excellent base for the 'brown' contents of your compost heap.
In terms of paper, be sure to avoid any coloured or glossy variants, they can take longer to decompose or mess up the nutrients.
Both leaves and paper will mature faster if they've been shredded up, though this is more important with paper, so take the time to do that if you're only adding some at a time.
You can also add pine needles, though they're fairly acidic and shouldn't be included in the same quantities as normal leaves.
Wood and Straw This is a sizeable source of carbon matter, though it's pretty dense and can be difficult to break down.
It's best to invest in some small wood chips, or light prunings from a smaller shrub.
They'll take a while to decompose either way, so only add these items sparingly.
It's also advisable to layer them, so they don't clump together in the middle of the heap.
If you can find a source of straw it makes for an excellent carbon ingredient.
Be more careful about hay, since it often includes seeds.
There's plenty more to consider, but these ingredients are easy to get hold of, and will allow you to make a healthily balanced compost heap with minimal effort.
Composting is a great way to save money and simple enough to get started on, so there's no reason not to try your hand.
While it's tempting to just throw in every handy organic item you know will decompose, Fruit and Vegetables These are high in nitrogen, and you're likely to have plenty of them.
Take your peelings and leftovers from meals and toss them in the heap.
They're fairly quick to decompose, so you'll want to find some equally valuable carbon materials to mix in.
Grass and Flowers Take some cuttings from the live plants, or throw in the entire flower if it's an annual or biennial plant at the end of its life cycle.
These are again high in nitrogen, but represent an easily replenished and sizeable source of materials.
But remember, never throw in weeds, and be sure to check there are no seeds mixed in with your cuttings.
While an un-seeded weed is technically fine to include, the risk of planting seeds in the compost is very significant.
No-one wants to lay down a soil-improving mulch and inadvertently plant a nettle crop.
Paper and Leaves These are both high in carbon and easy to get hold of without spending money, so they make for an excellent base for the 'brown' contents of your compost heap.
In terms of paper, be sure to avoid any coloured or glossy variants, they can take longer to decompose or mess up the nutrients.
Both leaves and paper will mature faster if they've been shredded up, though this is more important with paper, so take the time to do that if you're only adding some at a time.
You can also add pine needles, though they're fairly acidic and shouldn't be included in the same quantities as normal leaves.
Wood and Straw This is a sizeable source of carbon matter, though it's pretty dense and can be difficult to break down.
It's best to invest in some small wood chips, or light prunings from a smaller shrub.
They'll take a while to decompose either way, so only add these items sparingly.
It's also advisable to layer them, so they don't clump together in the middle of the heap.
If you can find a source of straw it makes for an excellent carbon ingredient.
Be more careful about hay, since it often includes seeds.
There's plenty more to consider, but these ingredients are easy to get hold of, and will allow you to make a healthily balanced compost heap with minimal effort.
Composting is a great way to save money and simple enough to get started on, so there's no reason not to try your hand.
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