TURN UP THE HEAT ON COMPOSTING

Becky Searle explains how hot composting can speed up the process, kill off weed seeds and deliver nutrient-rich compost in a fraction of the time

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There is a subtle alchemy to composting.

Mix the ingredients together correctly, and you will create a super-powered growth formula tailored to your garden. Compost made from your own garden waste will contain the right balance of nutrients needed by the plants growing in your garden.

But what if we take composting to the next level? If you want a way to make composting faster and create a better finished product, you need to try hot composting.

It's rather like a game: you have to get the conditions right to achieve the right temperatures. And when all the pieces are in place, that's when the magic happens. But what you need to be able to achieve these conditions is a sound knowledge of how composting works, so let's dive in.

BREAKING IT DOWN WITH THE DECOMPOSERS

Compost is broken down by creatures called decomposers, including slugs, snails, woodlice, millipedes, fungi, and bacteria. Larger organisms break down leaves and other green materials by consuming and excreting them. Bacteria then take over to complete the process. Earthworms, in particular, help mix and aerate the compost as they move through the pile.

However, most decomposers cannot break down wood due to its lignin content, which is strong and long-lasting. Lignin also helps maintain the compost's texture, preventing it from becoming slimy. To break down wood, fungi are essential. They are capable of decomposing various materials and are even used in bioremediation to clean up harmful substances from the environment. Because woody matter breaks down more slowly, it helps stabilise the compost. If we use cardboard, shredded paper or brown leaves, they will break down faster than wood chips or twigs, but will still help to give structure to your compost.