Compost bins?
Question:I have just bought a plastic type compost bin, i have put it on a level surface on top of soil but wont the mice be able to dig their way under to get to the scraps? Any tips please?
Answers:
Well yeah but as long as you are putting in the proper foods (no meat/animal/Dairy), and are putting that in the middle of the pile you will be fine.
yes they will,but also when you start putting in your veg peelings,grass cuttings,etc you will probably end up with a brilliant colony of ants,that will help break everything down,and there fantastic to watch,dont worry about the mice,theres some living near us all,and closer than we think?
No, we have an allotment and ours is on the surface of the top soil. We have never had mice in either of them....
The mice will not do too much. You need it to be exposed so that the worms can get to it. The worms eat the cuttings and poop out good compost. I have done it for years and I get rich soil.
Well, yes. But if you are putting in only the proper things, ie: no meat, dairy, etc and adding clippings, cuttings, and assorted stuff on a regular basis, then it will be fine. Once your compost starts "cooking" no self respecting critter is going to want in . it gets extremely warm in there as stuff breaks down.
This may happen, put two or three mice traps around the outside of the bin where pets and children can't get to them. this may help keep the mice away.
you can put some fine wire mash at the bottom of the bin to stop mice getting into the bin but i dont think mice will be a problem. i have never found mice in any of my compost bins.do not put anything solid it the base though as you require good drainage. one more tip if you are putting grass cuttings in the bin mix them with courser material as to much grass together will not rot down. sprinkle a small amount of soil ito the bin on top of the material from time to time ,this adds the bacteria that will do the composting and a sprinkling of sulphate of ammonia will get the bin of to a good start.
Try not putting too much food scraps in the bin. Also keep the weed input down as you may find that if the bin doesn't get hot enough to kill the seeds you only get the weeds back but in a bigger abundance. I always put my weeds in the Council Green Bins, if you get those.
Mice will not go near the bin, as long as you keep meat/dairy out of it.
Make sure you mix all the different types of waste together - ie grass clippings with your vegetable waste. Toilet roll/kitchen roll is good for airating the compost.
You might want to use an accelerator (available from all garden centres) to speed up the process. Keep the lid on at all times, and keep the heap well watered. if it gets dry it will not rot down.
Whenever you spot a friendly worm in your garden, add it to the mix! Worms are compost heaps' best friends.
Good luck!!
am no fan of plastic compost bins, however they are better than nowt, dont put cooked food scraps in there tho!
we have open compost heaps and livin in the countryside we get and expect field mice in there.
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