I've got a bit of a gardening issue here! I live in a terrace house and instead of wheeling my green waste bin through the house, I use a big black bin for grass cuttings, which is easier to manage. However, last week, the lid blew off in some wind and rain, and now my bin is about 75% full of a stinky mixture of rainwater and grass clippings. I need some advice on how to deal with this mess. Should I just dump it in the garden and let it dry out naturally? I've tried drilling a hole in the bottom to prevent water buildup, but it's clogged with the grass and water that's already there. I also have a wildflower patch—could I spread this mixture over there and let it decompose naturally? Any tips would be greatly appreciated as I'm new to gardening!
2 Answers
Just a heads-up: spring grass can have seed heads and weed seeds. Spreading that over your garden can lead to unwanted growth. Honestly, I've stopped collecting clippings altogether; just mow and leave them. They decompose in place and provide great nutrients back to the lawn. But as for your current situation, regular composting can handle grass clippings as long as they're mixed well. You might want to check local guidelines too—some towns have weird rules!
That makes sense, but what should I do with the contents of my bin?
You've got a good start for a compost pile! Try mixing in some dried leaves, cardboard, or sawdust—anything that can help balance the wetness. If you don’t have room to compost in your garden directly, think about getting a compost bin; they're super handy for all kinds of kitchen scraps (just avoid meat). Once you start, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!
Thanks! But won't the watery grass slurry be too soggy for composting?
Mixing it with browns should help! Plus a good compost setup can kill off weed seeds.