Every living thing will eventually die, decompose and turn back into earth. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a garden. And every garden can benefit from well made compost to enrich the soil before the spring sowings. A compost heap helps the necessary decomposition take place in a controlled way.

Whether you use purpose-built bins or construct your own compost corner from pallets or wooden planks, the secret of successful compost is in the mix. Ideally, compost should comprise 50 per cent fresh materials and 50 per cent dry ingredients if it's to provide the right nitrogen/carbon ratio. The nitrogen rich half can be found in material such as lawn mowings, kitchen waste, and annual weeds, while the carbon half might include newspaper, straw, cardboard, and old potting compost.

The smaller the pieces are when you add them to the compost heap, the better. If possible, shred whatever can be shredded. If you want compost quickly, however, it is best to leave out highly ligneous stuff like autumn leaves, twigs and small branches. These take longer to decompose.

What ingredients should you use? The answer is almost anything, except for cooked foods or meat of any kind, which will only encourage vermin. Egg shells are fine if they're crushed into small pieces. Even the contents of your vacuum cleaner will add to the richness of the finished product. If you're adding garden waste, make sure it doesn't contain the roots of any perennial weeds, such as bindweed or ground elder. It's not a good idea to include too much citrus peeling either as this tends to make the compost too acid.

For decomposition to take place, you need air so that the bacteria can feed on the oxygen. A reliable indicator that the bacteria are doing their job is the amount of heat generated. This also kills off any harmful bacteria and unwanted seeds from perennial weeds. So it stands to reason that the more you turn your compost, the more air you'll incorporate into the heap. Turn your compost, or at least mix it, once a week and you can have usable compost in about 12 weeks. The more you turn it, the faster your compost breaks down and the richer in nutrients it becomes.

The black gold' you finish up with should smell earthy, not rotten, and it should be crumbly in texture and dark in colour. It is best stored in dustbins or black plastic sacks until you need it.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Allen.
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