Hello,

We are new to gardening, sorry if all of this sounds daff but...

1. We have a brand new composter, basically a green plastic bin with a lid &
a removable base which we've installed in the back corner of our garden. We
have lots of brown leaves from last autumn lying around the garden, should
we put these into the composter first then kitchen wastes like veg.
peelings? which would rot down first basically? and how long does it take
for it all to breakdown into compost? do i need to stir it from time to time
or do i just leave it to do it's thang.

2. the garden wall looks sad & old, still solid though & not falling over
yet... i'm thinking of giving it a once over with a metal brush & patching
up any loose mortar, do i buy ready mixed cement/mortar from a DIY shop &
patch it up & paint it over after with masonry paint to protect it from the
elements? it's already painted white but it looks like it was done many
years ago.

3. we are going to put a wooden trellis on one side of the *repaired* garden
wall once it's done. How do i fix/attach it to the garden wall? We are going
to plant a rose for this trellis & from what i've seen, the trellis needs to
be a few inches away from the wall.

Thanks.

city folks/garden virgins.