How to prepare your composter for winter

The end-of-season work in our gardens is underway. It is time to think about how to prepare the composter for winter. In composters nature does not rest: biological processes are still going on in them, which will will determine the quality of the spring-ready compost.

Nature can work in the compost mass even despite winter weather conditions weather conditions. What processes occur in composting? Mesophilic bacteria and thermophilic bacteria release energy in the form of heat, so the temperature in the composting mass increases significantly. This allows the composting process to be maintained even during cold days. As a result, in the spring we will get processed faster compost.

What can we do to enhance these natural processes? We have tips for you, that will allow you to properly take care of your compost pile before winter arrives.

1. regularly replenish the composting material

In order to sustain the heat release process in the composter, it is necessary to regularly add composting material. Ideal for this are falling leaves from which we need to clean our lawn and shredded pieces of twigs. During the winter period, it is worth adding kitchen scraps to the compost pile -. this will maintain the right temperature in the composter. However, it is necessary to remember, that not all waste is suitable for the composter. Check:

What to make good compost from?

2. provide the right amount of water

Supplying the compost mass with an adequate amount of water is one of the basic treatments that will protect it from winter frost. It is necessary point out that there is currently a drought, in connection with this it is necessary to take care of proper hydration of our compost piles.

Remember the proper moisture content of the compost mass: it must not be too dry, because water sustains the life of microorganisms and earthworms, whose presence in the heap is essential. In turn, too much water will cause rotting of the compost material and not get valuable fertilizer.

jak-przygotowac-kompostownik-do-zimy-nawadniaj-kompostownik — How to prepare your compost pile for winter: remember to water your compost pile – if there is no rainfall for a long time, the bacteria and microorganisms will die off.

3. limit heat loss

An important procedure to remember is to reduce the loss of energy from the compost pile. We can do this in several ways. One of them is special sealing valves in the composter, which should be closed if the temperature drops below 5℃.

If our composter does not have them, it can be covered: completely or partially. A tarp or bubble wrap, for example, will be helpful for this. Remember, that the covering of the composter should be easy to remove – after all, we want to regularly add compost material.

You can also choose an ecological alternative and cover the composter with a thick layer of leftover leaves, branches, sawdust or straw. These natural insulators will effectively protect the composter from excessive drying and loss of heat.

Covering the composter with a piece of sheet metal will make it easier to get rid of the snow layer from the top layer of the composter; when too much moisture enters the pile, it will begin to rot and we will not be able to use our compost in the spring.

4. add bacteria and urea

biokomposter-biopreparaty-bakterie-do-kompostu

Given that a lot of matter (leaves, branches, etc.) goes into the compost pile in autumn, it's also a good idea to add bacteria, contained in the natural preparation Biokomposter, and a little urea.

Urea is a good source of nitrogen for the bacteria and will make it easier for them to mineralize the matter, which contains significant amounts of organic carbon, which comes mainly from leaves. How much urea to put in the compost pile? 1-2 handfuls of urea for a composter with dimensions: meter/meter/meter.

The combination of bacteria, urea and water will make the composter reach a higher temperature, as intensive microbial processes will take place inside it microbiology, which will prolong its functioning until the arrival of frost. As a result, despite the low temperatures in autumn and winter, in spring there will be mature compost in the composter, ready to be put into the ground.