"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 03:31:09 -0800 (PST), michael
wrote:

Following the discussion below about the problems of using carpet for weed
suppression,what do people use successfully to cover their compost heaps?
I use some thickish blue plastic material at the moment held down with
pieces of wood -someone gave it to me on the allotments about 15yrs
ago,but it is just beginning to break up with small blue pieces getting
into the compost.
I also use plastic bins bags on my smaller garden compost heap,but several
are needed and also need weighting down with many bricks.
Any ideas for a reasonably chemical free covering for a compost heap about
6'X4'?
Michael

My 'active' heap is open, to allow for regular additions. After 12
months or so, it's moved into an adjacent bay, to mix, re-aerate and
allow it to mature/finish rotting, and that heap gets covered with
some heavy duty black polythene sheet weighted down with a few old
pallets. Got the sheet on-line, but probably available at any GC.

--

Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
===========================================

Chris this is what I do with ours and am doing the same with my daughter's
heap. I have covered hers with a builders 1 Tonne Bag flattened out as best
I can.

Mine is a bit smaller and I have cut a sheet of shuttering ply and painted
it with roofing Paint. That pile is drying and nearly ready for sifting and
using. Anything which doesn't go through the sieve goes into a metre square
compost 'cage' I bought from the Garden Centre and that can stay until I am
unable to get any more in. That will be about 5 years I think!!

Mike


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