I found your article on this topic very helpful. However, the article did not say anything about the quantity. During the winter, we generate about 3 or 4 cups of ash a night. We have a large compost bin, which serves scraps from 7 individuals. So a lot of peelings, etc. go into the bin daily. Is there a rule of thumb about how much ash can be included? Perhaps a ratio of some sort? Thank you.
I would add wood ash sparingly, unless you have a lot of green matter as well. You can treat this as if it were Brown matter, so you can follow the ratio to that. This should always be well composted though. Never add to soil when it is fresh. It will drastically throw off the pH.
This article will give you information on green to brown matter ratios: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/browns-greens-compost.htm
How to compost only cow dung, in a step wise manner? In our region, it's monsoon time.
This will have to be done with other materials as well. It will not compost properly on its own. This article will give you more information on how to do this: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/cow-manure-compost.htm
I compost leaves, twigs, kitchen waste and grass clippings. It mostly is leaves in the fall, shrub and bush trimmings spring & fall and grass a few times during the grass growing season. I get a large quantity of beautiful compost every year. I used this in my garden and also tried to fill pots and plant flowers and herbs. I don't think this produces good germination results from seeds; is compost not good as a potting soil?
Compost is an excellent addition to potting mix; however, by itself, it doesn't drain well and can pack down making it hard for fragile roots to penetrate. That is where perlite comes in. Most potting mixes have no soil (dirt) and are based on sphagnum peat or coir and perlite. Compost is going to break down fast so it is utilized as a topdressing or no more than 1/3 of a homemade potting mix.
My rotator drum-shaped compost bin is FULL of food scraps, fall leaves, and green matter- leaves, etc. It is wet as well. I mistakenly kept adding to it weekly until I realized I needed to leave it awhile-I've been turning it and have not added any new matter in several weeks. Will it compost?
Yes, but if it is over full, it can take much longer. You can add Mycorrhiza, which is a beneficial fungus, to the compost. This will help it to move along at a much faster rate.
Thanks for this- I purchased granular mycorrhizae and have searched for how to add- proportions? use it as is or make a concoction- compost tea? All answers are much appreciated.
Please help. I have never gardened before so am a complete beginner. I have been given a compost bin. Read somewhere that I need a base of lawn cuttings, leaves etc. Then I keep adding my kitchen vege peels, teabags etc. Is this all I do .... keep adding kitchen waste until it is full? No soil or anything else needed? When full, do I just leave it about a year? Using a compost bin, do I need to ever turn? Does a compost bin attract flies/slugs, and does it smell if it is only the kitchen waste and no soil? Last but not least, the bin will be on a tarred area. Is that alright? Or does it have to be on ground? Would appreciate your advice please. Many thanks. Toni
This article should help with your questions
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/basics/ultimate-beginners-guide-composting.htm
I am composting in my yard but do I continusly need to put more old dirt in the compost pile or do ed it spread and make more soil?or do I need to buy more dirt? And how long do I need to wait before I start using my new compost soil? Good soil it's my 1st time. thanks
The old dirt that you add will help to compost the pile faster, as it contains the organism responsible for this process already. Your composted soil should not contain very much recognizable material... If you can see bits of things that you have put it, then it needs a little longer to break down. Once it looks like good soil, you can use it.
Turning the pile will help quite a bit with the process. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/basics/ultimate-beginners-guide-composting.htm
If preemergent is used on a lawn to prevent weeds from germinating, is it ok to use the grass clippings for compost?
It will, usually, not hurt is such small concentrations. Just make sure that this is thoroughly composted before you use.