Building the layers

Balance greens and browns for healthy compost

For compost to heat up and decompose properly, it needs a mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’.

Greens include wet, quick-rotting materials like grass clippings, fruit scraps, and vegetable peelings.

Browns are drier materials like pruned branches, cardboard, and plant stems.

A good mix of both ensures your compost stays active and doesn’t become too wet or dry. Crushed eggshells can be added for extra minerals, and cardboard or egg boxes help create air pockets.

Add a thin layer of soil or well-rotted manure after every few layers to introduce fungi and bacteria that help kickstart the breakdown. If you don’t have any available, a sprinkle of ready-made compost like Bracken Down or SylvaGrow® Farmyard Soil Improver will help inoculate your compost with beneficial microbes.

Cover your bin with a piece of tarpaulin, old carpet, or polythene, and leave it to break down. Most composts take around 3 months to begin turning into usable material.

What to compost

Feed your compost the right ingredients

Here’s what you can and should add to your compost bin:

 Uncooked vegetable trimmings and fruit peelings

 Tea bags and coffee grounds

 Grass clippings and soft plant cuttings

 Fallen leaves

 Cotton or wool fabrics (in small pieces)

 Scrunched paper or cardboard egg boxes

Need more dry matter to balance out wet kitchen waste? Consider topping up with a small amount of our Topsoil Blended Loam. This fine-textured soil helps improve structure and provides a clean, pest-free base layer.

 Avoid composting:
Meat, dairy, oily foods, pet waste, soiled nappies, diseased plants, or perennial weed roots. These can attract pests, slow decomposition, or introduce problems into your compost.

Keeping your compost healthy

Air, balance and patience

The microbes breaking down your waste need enough air and moisture to stay active. If the compost looks too wet, add more browns like dry leaves or cardboard. If it seems too dry, add more greens like grass clippings or fruit peel.

Here are a few practical tips:

Chop everything into small pieces – it speeds up the process.

Mix or turn the contents every few weeks to add oxygen.

Layer greens and browns consistently to maintain balance.

For gardeners who compost regularly, it’s helpful to have two bins – one to fill while the other rests and breaks down. You’ll always have compost on the go and avoid interrupting the cycle.

Want to give your homemade compost a boost? Try combining it with our SylvaGrow® Growing Medium. It’s a peat-free, nutrient-rich compost that can supplement your homemade mix for even better results, especially in containers or raised beds.

Composting for long-term success

Build a routine that works for your garden

Making compost isn’t complicated, but it does take time and care. Once you’ve established a routine, your garden will benefit season after season. As well as allowing your plants to thrive, you’ll also be reducing waste and helping the environment. The list of benefits is a long one!

Looking for more natural ways to condition your soil? Our full range of soil conditioners, including Multipurpose Compost, offers reliable, peat-free options that support strong, sustainable plant growth.