Why is emptying a compost heap such hard work

[rustylady]

I'm trying to dig out my old compost heap (bin) - wooden, homemade, about 4 feet by 4 feet. The compost is great. Trouble is I'm sieving it and using it as a mulch on the borders and every time i fork some up and sieve it I;m left with twice as much in the bin. I'm not complaining really but it's going to take me ages to actually empty the heap so I can start again. Having said that the compost is beautiful. Definitely better results than from the Daleks.

[Two_Sheds]

Are your Daleks in sun or shade, RL?
They cook much quicker in the sunshine

[muckdiva]

RL, just think of it as being worth it's weight in gold!

[Snadger]

I think the best use for compost is to improve the structure of the soil. What I feel you are doing by sieving it is improving the texture not the structure!

Having said that every one to there own!

[Flummery]

I don't sieve mine either Snadger. I use it either as a mulch around fruit bushes or buried under my beans and courgettes etc. This way the whole plot gets a go every few years and any textural anomalies (I like that - it's the second glass of red speaking!) don't matter.

[vicki lorraine]

I agree - i just use it as it comes and the lumpy texture ( I dont drink! so no clever words from me!) adds air to the soil.

[welsh veg grower]

I use it as it comes, lumps and bumps why worry veg dont seem to mind.

[rustylady]

I think the best use for compost is to improve the structure of the soil. What I feel you are doing by sieving it is improving the texture not the structure!

Having said that every one to there own!

I have to sieve it (the sieve isn't fine, it just screens out very large lumps) - When I made the heap I chucked everything in there as I was clearing a very overgrown garden in a rented property - and there's alsorts in the heap including some bluebell bulbs which have multiplied, stones, largeish lumps of wood - I've even found plastic bags which I'm sure I didn't put in there.

[Paulottie]

I learned the same lesson -truly back breaking to sieve- you could hang the riddle from a frame to take the weight. You've got to be careful what goes in I still reckon rotary mower works well to shed it all up. Put it out on a bit of lawn first and run over it. ( obviously don't get too ambitious with the branches!) and more you mix it better it turns out. I never bother to sieve now -just throw the worst sticks back. As Snager says adds structure- let the worms do the graft.

[Nicos]

Don't sieve mine either- think I'd die of bordom!!!!

[Madasafish]

I am lazy and make emptying bins easier by having a removable front.. and sieving is for wimps :-))