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- Q.Is It Safe To Put Coloured Cardboard In The Compost Bin? - For example, the large patch of black ink on Amazon cardboard boxes. Are there toxic chemicals in this ink, which ...
- Q.As Cut Grass Goes From Green To Brown, Does It Give Up Its Nitrogen? Usually Brown Means Carbon And Green Means Nitrogen. - If so, does top mulching with cut grass waste nitrogen? I've noticed mixing fresh cut grass can temporarily give a ...
- Q.Should I Have Furry Mould In My Compost Heap? - I have started a compost heap {about 3 weeka ago} and it is full of mould on the food. I ...
- Q.I Noticed A White Substance On My Kale And Carrot Container Beds. Is This Harmful? Can I Throw The Soil Into My Compost Bin? - The white area spread on the surface of the soil in a day but did not seem to touch the ...
- Q.Decomposing Quickly Twigs, Branches Etc - My next door neighbour is doing some work in my garden. He wants to decompose quickly some leaves, twigs, branches ...
- Q.SHREDDING CARDBOARD BOXES - You talk about putting shredded cardboard into your compost heap but have not helped us with how to shred it. ...
- Q.Can We Compost In 1. General BPA Buckets? 2. HDPE Buckets That Are Not Food Grade (eg; Paint Buckets )? - Can we use virgin PP buckets for growing plants? and for composting also? Can we use 20 litre buckets for ...
Asked by
sharon ahmad on
April 9, 2021
Beckenham, KentQ.Is It Safe To Put Coloured Cardboard In The Compost Bin?
For example, the large patch of black ink on Amazon cardboard boxes. Are there toxic chemicals in this ink, which would make it unsafe to put it in the compost and then use the compost on new plants and vegetables?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 12, 2021
Certified ExpertA.I don't recommend composting inks. Sometimes the chemicals will be destroyed by the heat of a properly kept pile, but not always.
This collection of articles will offer tips on composting:
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
April 18, 2021Q.As Cut Grass Goes From Green To Brown, Does It Give Up Its Nitrogen? Usually Brown Means Carbon And Green Means Nitrogen.
If so, does top mulching with cut grass waste nitrogen? I've noticed mixing fresh cut grass can temporarily give a compost Sometimes nitrogen is in short supply in the garden, and I like to preserve it.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 18, 2021
Certified ExpertA.This article should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/mulching-with-grass-clippings.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 19, 2021Q.Should I Have Furry Mould In My Compost Heap?
I have started a compost heap {about 3 weeka ago} and it is full of mould on the food. I have just read about turning, which I had never done. Will this help reduce mould or do I need to start again?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 20, 2021
Certified ExpertA.Turning your compost and adding organic materials are a good practice and some types of fungus and mold may be helpful in breaking it down. Also, not all food is appropriate for the compost heap, especially if it is in a pile. Here are articles that should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/what-can-you-compost.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/fungus-growing-on-manure.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/common-mulch-fungus.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 19, 2021Q.I Noticed A White Substance On My Kale And Carrot Container Beds. Is This Harmful? Can I Throw The Soil Into My Compost Bin?
The white area spread on the surface of the soil in a day but did not seem to touch the kale or carrot starts. Is this white substance harmful to the plant, me, or infect my compost bin?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 22, 2021
Certified ExpertA.This article should help:
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Anonymous on
June 3, 2021Q.Decomposing Quickly Twigs, Branches Etc
My next door neighbour is doing some work in my garden. He wants to decompose quickly some leaves, twigs, branches etc He says that many years ago he used some form of lime to do this but is unable to remember what type of lime it was. Could you help with this? Thank you.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 9, 2021
Certified ExpertA.Lime won't help those twigs decompose faster but it might make the compost more alkaline.
Your best bet is to chop those up finely. The leaves can be run over with a mower. Twigs and branches can be chopped up.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/adding-lime-to-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 12, 2021Q.SHREDDING CARDBOARD BOXES
You talk about putting shredded cardboard into your compost heap but have not helped us with how to shred it. Could you do this? Many thanks
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
June 23, 2021
Certified ExpertA.This can be done by hand, using large sheers, or shredders if you have access to one. You may have to get creative when accomplishing this task.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 23, 2021Q.Can We Compost In 1. General BPA Buckets? 2. HDPE Buckets That Are Not Food Grade (eg; Paint Buckets )?
Can we use virgin PP buckets for growing plants? and for composting also? Can we use 20 litre buckets for the above mentioned? Are curd buckets,aquaculture buckets,animal husbandry buckets all food grade and safe for growing plants and composting?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
July 6, 2021
Certified ExpertA.You can purchase low cost buckets at the local home improvement store. Do not use any buckets that held toxic chemicals or materials. It's generally recommended to avoid BPA. The label should say if the container is safe for food storage. Many restaurants will give away food grade buckets.
https://www.ga,rdeningknowhow.com/special/containers/growing-vegetables-in-buckets.htm
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