Composting hints and tips

Composting is the simplest way to make plants in gardens and greenhouses become more beautiful, it is claimed.

Online resource recyclenow explains that compost which is ready for use is dark brown or nearly black in colour and has a soil-like quality to it as well as a spongy texture.

The site recommends that spreading the product on flowerbeds greatly improves the quality of soil by helping it to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Good quality finished compost can take between six months and a year to make, but the process can be speeded up by regularly mixing and turning a compost bins contents.

When potting plants with the product, it is a good idea to mix one part sand with two parts compost and two parts sterilised soil or loam as this will produce the best results, the site concludes.

Online resource Garden Organic explains that around 40 per cent of the average dustbin contents are suitable for home composting.