How to make compost – tips and tricks to create richly fertile compost

If you've been flexing your green fingers this spring, learning how to make compost should definitely be next on your to do list. Not only will it save you from going out and buying heaps of soil, you'll also be putting your kitchen food waste to good use instead of contributing it to landfill. 

Learning how to make compost is fortunately very easy and beginner friendly. Whether you're learning how to grow strawberries in pots or you've got some flowers from the garden centre that need planting, homemade compost will help them thrive. Plus, it's a great budget garden idea, as you won't need to rely on store bought compost anymore.

'As we start to see the benefits of spring with longer days and warmer temperatures, gardeners who managed to maintain their compost piles throughout winter will now see them thrive and for those who are just starting theirs, now is as good a time as any', says Samantha Richards, Garden Gazebo Expert, Gazeboshop.  

We've compiled all of our top tips and tricks on how to make compost into this essential guide, so that you can help your garden thrive this summer.

How to make compost at home

With the help of our guide, you'll be able to create rich and fertile compost, easily and efficiently. Learning how to make compost is essentially a brilliant free garden idea, as you'll be able to use the finished product to make all of your garden plants - indoors and out - thrive.

What you'll need

• Compost bin - these compost bins from Amazon are ideal for storing and converting your food waste
• Kitchen compost caddy - these compost caddies from Amazon will store your kitchen waste before you compost 
• Biodegradable caddy liners - these food waste bags from Amazon are fully compostable, so you can add them to your heap along with your food scraps
• Garden fork - to turn your compost heap and help keep it aerated. These garden forks from Amazon will do the job

1. Get a good compost bin

The first step to learning how to make compost is to invest in a compost bin. Plastic bins usually have a door at the front so mature compost can be removed without disturbing the whole heap, and a darker colour finish will help retain moisture. 

This WFX Ultimate 380L Plastic Compost Bin, £81.99 at Wayfair, is a great option for storing large amounts of compost. There are more affordable options too, like this Denny International® 300L Outdoor Compost Bin, £26.95 at Amazon.

2. Find a good position for your bin

Find a good position for your compost bin within your garden landscaping ideas. Your compost site should be level, well-drained and ideally on bare soil to give easy access to worms, who helpfully break down the contents. If that's not possible, place your compost bin on concrete or other hard surface. And whatever you do, don't put it on top of wooden decking, as the wood will rot and your garden decking ideas will be ruined.

Make sure your compost heap is sheltered – you need the compost to retain warmth for the contents to rot down well. Don't position it in full sun, as this will dry out the compost.

3. Collect your 'greens'

Use a kitchen compost caddy to collect your food scraps. Line your caddy with a compostable bin liner so you can easily remove this and take it to your outdoor compost bin when it's full.

Organic matter that you add to your compost bin is known as 'greens'. 'Green ingredients supply nitrogen and include grass cuttings, vegetable peel and weeds', explains Fiona Jenkins, Gardening Expert, MyJobQuote.

4. Collect your 'browns'

The other components that make your compost are known as 'browns'. 'Brown ingredients are the carbon-rich elements including cardboard, straw and trimmings from shrubs and hedges', says Fiona.

A good compost pile will have a healthy mixture of greens and browns, but should be around 4 parts browns to 1 part greens. Keep an eye out for compostable materials; a lot of companies these days are making efforts to be more sustainable, so they'll use biodegradable packaging which you can add to your compost bin. Crushed egg shells are great, as these will deter slugs and snails. 

Break up your composting materials into smaller pieces to speed up the process. Larger bits of debris will take longer to decompose.

5. Tend your heap regularly

Use a garden fork, shovel or special aerator tool, like this All-Green Darlac Compost Aerator, £19.99 at Amazon, to turn your compost once a month. This helps to mix up the matter and add air. You might need to pour on a drop of water in very hot weather.

6. Exercise patience

Compost takes between six months and two years to reach maturity. You'll know that it's ready once it’s dark and crumbly, with a strong earthy smell.

What NOT to compost

Knowing how to make compost also involves knowing what you shouldn't be putting in your compost bin. Below are the things to avoid if you want to create a rich and fruitful compost heap. 

1. Dairy

'Dairy products like cheese, milk and yoghurt should be thrown in the bin instead of in your compost as they will go foul and attract vermin', says Samantha Richards. 'It’s also worth checking the ingredients of processed foods that you are thinking of adding to the compost as ones that contain a lot of dairy or fat should be avoided too.'   

2. Pet faeces

Animal manure is a popular component for fertile soil, but adding your pet faeces to your compost bin is a big no no, as your compost heap will become a hot spot for bacteria, germs and viruses.  

Err on the side of caution with cat litter as well. Cat litter can only be composted if it is plant-based, which will usually be made from grains, paper, or wood pellets. Some cat litter bags will indicate that they are compostable, but if this is missing from yours and it's not clear whether it's plant based, it's best not to add it to your compost bin.

3. Meat, bones and fish

There's a lot of kitchen food waste which is great when you're learning how to make compost, but animal by-products like meat, bones and fish should go in your regular waste bin instead. 'Though they are biodegradable and do contain nutrients, they will rot in your heap and start to smell which will attract all kinds of animals and rodents - definitely not something you want in your garden or your neighbours want next door', Samantha says.  

4. Stickers on fruit and veg

Don't forget to remove the stickers from your fruit and veg before adding them to your compost bin. Obviously, these stickers aren't biodegradable, and it can be quite tedious to pick these out of your compost heap later on.

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