Turn your compost for better results.

I delved into one of my compost bins at the weekend to mix up a batch with some sharp grit to pot on a Honeysuckle L. halliana that I struck from a cutting after picking it from the hedgerow back in the Spring.

I keep three altogether, one is a proper wormery which I have diligently used for some seven years or so, one is a brown wheelie bin which we fished out of Petersfield Heath Lake about six years ago (you would be amazed at what gets thrown into Petersfield Heath Lake) and a black plastic dustbin which I set up a couple of years ago.

Whenever - as I did last weekend - I go to get some lovely black gold I have to remove a month or more of fairly fresh vegetation to get at the different levels of usable compost.

The fresh vegetation is put into the next available bin where I will continue to add more fresh waste to increase humidity and heat.

With what remains of the usable compost I like to turn this over and leave for at least a month and I really find it does get the juices going and seems to blend it all down that little bit better.

My problem is impatience. When I go up to the bin it is because I need the compost right now and not in a months time so I am contemplating buying a tumbler so that I can rotate the bin every time I add new stuff.

Just look at the example of the compost from the latest batch. It is wonderful stuff and here I am adding some sharp sand and mixing it ip and planting one of the Sedum plant cuttings.

The Honeysuckle has been planted into an old galvanised cooking utensil and sits on top of an old well which I have just renovated. It looks a bit isolated at the moment  but the intention is to let it grow up onto the frame and pulley wheel with Virginia Creeper meandering and mingling with the foliage too and spreading and softening the stonework.

This will form the basis of the evergreen (possibly semi evergreen) with the Honysuckle, the fantastic soft growth in the Springtime and the Autumnal colour with the Virginia Creeper and I will add some seasonal colour annual colour each year so change the theme.