I've been struggling with my compost lately, and it sometimes sets up like concrete. I'm curious about what others are adding to improve their compost, especially when it seems to be of lower quality. Any tips or tricks?
3 Answers
I usually add perlite and vermiculite, which really help aerate the compost and prevent it from becoming too compact. I buy them in 100-liter bags, and they last a long time. It's also good for cuttings if you use mostly perlite!
This year, I've had success with some affordable Westland compost. Just be careful because the quality can vary—one bag might be great, and another could be a dud, just like with Miracle-Gro sometimes.
I got two bags of that stuff, and one was good while the other was pretty bad.
I've started mixing my own compost or soil in with the store-bought stuff. Sifting out big wood chunks and adding perlite really makes a difference for me. Plus, if the compost starts drying out, I mix in some coco coir to retain moisture, which I find at discount shops.
This is what I do too.