What to cover a compost bin with

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
I have nearly finished repairing my pallet compost bin down the allotment. At the moment it is covered with a couple of pieces of carpet.
Thing is the carpet is starting to look and smell a bit skankey. I was wondering what other people covered theirs with if anything at all.

[Bigmallly]

I have a 3 pallet compost bin which has tarpaulin stapled to the top of the pallets then running down to a gutter to harvest rainwater. The front of the bins themselves are open to the elements.

Edit:.........Oops, I'm telling porkies......The fronts have sliding boards but only to the height of the compost.

[KevinM67]

I read somewhere that somebody kept on planting nasturtiums on the top of their compost heap.

[roitelet]

I use plastic in the winter to stop the compost getting too wet.

[Noosner]

I'm a carpet gal meself. Have tried a few other things but find carpet does the trick best.

[arpoet]

Thick cardboard covered with spent hops. it all rots into the heap over time.

[noviceveggrower]

I was thinking of putting cardboard down then it could rot over winter ready for next year. I do have a couple of plastic composters so once I finish sorting the pallet one out next week I think I could put a bit of their stuff into the pallet one.
To sort it out properly I think I'm going to have to take a load of stuff out fix it then put it all back in. Going to be a fun job I think not. Loads of spiders in there so will have to put my wellies on

[Alison]

I hate using carpet, it gets manky and leeches all sorts. When I look over my plot there was loads of partially broken down carpet which was a nightmare to remove so us advise not going that root. Big cardboard sheets are great, they have pretty much broken down by spring and add to the compost. Also it's free

[PyreneesPlot]

I have three big pallet bins and only cover the one that is ready to use so that it is dry enough to sieve. It is covered just with some old manure sacks.

[Kristen]

As you have a pallet-bin could you knock up some sort of wooden (well, something that won't rot too easily!) lid that you could rest on top, or perhaps even be hinged (propped open with a stick maybe?)

In summer my heap can get too dry, and needs water for the composting process to work, but in winter the heap could easily get too wet and turn to a soggy mess and then I rick the anaerobic bugs taking over (similar to the slime that a pile of grass clippings turns into).

[alldigging]

More weeds.

[bario1]

When they aren't covered with courgette plants, I cover mine with heavy duty weed suppressant fabric, stapled down at the back and weighted down at the front with bricks or whatever else is to hand. It's good because it lets in some moisture, but not too much.