Compost heap - to line or not to line?

[JimmerG]

FINALLY got round to poaching some pallets from work - and knocked up a very reasonable looking compost heap.

So, what do people think about lining it - I understand that its a good idea to leave it unlined to encourage worms up from underneath, and to allow a bit of aeration.

BUT my lottie neighbour said if I line it - it'll encourage it to heat up more and break down quicker - to the point that I could even compost couch grass!!

What do you think?

J

[Pumpkin Becki]

I wonder if they mean line the sides rather than the bottom?

I don't have anything on the bottoms of my composters (daleks and pallet ones), as i find the soil underneath is improved during the composting process, so I can actually dig a bit of this soil out too when i'm emptying a bin.

[Capsid]

Lining the bin will aid in getting a hot compost and kill most weeds, but you need to ensure it will be properly aerated to encourage aerobic decomposition. So if you line it then be prepared to turn the bin on a regular basis (weekly?).

[JimmerG]

I wonder if they mean line the sides rather than the bottom?

I don't have anything on the bottoms of my composters (daleks and pallet ones), as i find the soil underneath is improved during the composting process, so I can actually dig a bit of this soil out too when i'm emptying a bin.

Its a good point PB, I've a compost heap in the garden at home, and the compost now reaches about a foot under the original ground level!

Lining the bin will aid in getting a hot compost and kill most weeds, but you need to ensure it will be properly aerated to encourage aerobic decomposition. So if you line it then be prepared to turn the bin on a regular basis (weekly?).

Hmmmm turning once a week - never in a million years will I get round to that!
Maybe I'll stick a bit of permeable weed membrane round the sides as a half way house sort of thing - and see what happens.....

[jacob marley]

I would line the sides only not the bottom and put a cover on the top of the compost it helps keep the heat in .
I would not try ro compost couch grass though donate it to the dust bin and let the council have it as for turning it i do not bother works well enough....jacob

[taff]

Mines not lined on the sides [ also just sitting on the soil ] but I'm planning on doing it soon, with cardboard or shredded paper. I can also attest to the efficacy of putting a cover on it, mine rotted down faster last year when I did that, then I had to take it off and use it as a windbreak somewhere else, so will have to find something else soon.

[dinky_doo]

hi what i would do is to stuf as much paper in between the slats in the pallets (if you have got the fork runners facing inwards) as possible really cram it in then put a layer of cardboard over the paper then fill the bin up with your garden waste and off you go you could always put a good picec of cardboard over the top too
no real need to put anything on the bottom this will let the worms in to play

[NOG]

I keep all my compost bags and cut them open and staple them black side facing out it the inside of the pallets. It stops the wind drying the heap out and helps the sun warm the contents and protects the palets from rotting.