In message , Nick Maclaren
writes
In article ,
Martin Brown wrote:
In message , Dave_R.
writes
On the topic of compost, does anyone have a good suggestion as to how
to deal with a lot of grass cuttings? I'm told (& have seen) that if I
put too much grass on the compost heap I end up with a dark, soggy,
smelly mass. What is the best suggestion for diluting the grass?

For certain values of "too much" this must be true, but I have no
problems at all adding roughly 1-2m^3 of grass clippings to mine every
week. It immediately starts rotting and reaches a peak temperature of
70-80C internally after a couple of days (slightly funny stale smell of
short chain fatty acids). It then slumps and I turn it over to mix in
and finish the top dry bit. It has mostly all gone by the time I next
cut the grass.

No, it's not quite like that. "Too much" depends critically on how
lush and wet the clippings are - it is only a problem when they
compact into an anaerobic block and turn into silage.

I suspect our positions are much closer than it may seem. I only ever
cut the grass when it is nice and dry and I don't overfeed it. I ensure
plenty of air is mixed with the grass added to the heap and add some
water if it looks too dry and dusty. I suspect some of the problems that
people have are due to anaerobic slabs of compacted grass out of
"clever" lawn mowers.

You can add
a cubic foot of really soggy grass and have a (minor, temporary)
problem, or an arbitrary amount of drier grass and have none.

Obviously I do mix in hedge cuttings when I have them since the heap at
these sort of temperatures will consume quite thick hedge prunings too.

You don't even need the temperature. I run a cold heap, and 1/2"
thick privet prunings rot down quite happily - in a year or two.

I am more impatient. I like my hedge clippings to disappear ASAP. The
down side is that the wooden palette sides of the heap also rot away.

It really is quite hard to make a complete failure of composting,
given that the solution to almost all problems is to rectify the
compaction or dampness problem and try again!

I agree. If all else fails mix some new stuff into the heap and it will
go. My own experience remains that within reason you can add 1-2m^3 of
almost any aerated green garden waste to a heap and it will go hot.

It may even be worth doing the hedge cut and lawn mowing together to
obtain enough bulk once or twice a year. I am convinced that a hot heap
makes a better compost with much less viable weed seeds.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown