Before I finish my wooden pallet masterpiece...

greengiant

Ok, now that I've almost fully constructed a frame of wooden pallets and wire mesh to use as a home for my sods and grass clippings, etc., I'd be grateful if someone can advise me on a few things before I start filling it up....

- I have a spare bag of wood chips that I assume I can use to mix with the cut grass to stop the grass stinking and turning to sludge. MUST I arrange these in alternate layers or is it the same thing to mix them all in together as I place them in the heap?

- Would it be ok to place the frame on top of an area of grass (see photo) or should I dig and turn over the soil first?

- As I've a thing about rats and mice (especially the former), I've spent a bit of time carefully attaching the mesh. Any other suggestions for further measures I can take besides not putting in meat products (which I won't!)? Does the mint trick work for mice as well as rats?

Thanks in advance!

Belfast · Ash Tree Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 236 Location: CSA

"Cover your bin with carpet to keep it warm and to help speed up the composting process."

How to build a compost heap.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/compost-bin/

you can cut the chance of rat or mice by being carefull what you put in the compost. avoid Food scraps, Meat or bones

"These can go in:
Shredded paper (although not shiny magazine type paper) cotton and wool fabrics
Woody material like prunings and Brussels sprout stems. These need to be put through a shredder first
Uncooked vegetable trimmings, peelings and tea bags from the kitchen
Annual weeds
Tops of perennial weeds
Old bedding plants
Soft hedge clippings
Dead leaves
Lawn mowings

These can't:
Synthetic fabrics
Food scraps
Meat or bones
Diseased plant material
Soil pests
Any weeds with seedheads
Perennial roots
Dog or cat waste"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/module7/making_your_own_compost1.shtml

Helpful Hints Compost Heaps & Bins
http://www.ipcc.ie/compwildheap.html

breezyacre · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject:

I have a compost bin that I am very careful about and it attracted rats. It is the potato peelings that do it I think. When I open it or take some compost out usually begins the problem. I have resorted to putting poison pellets in a pipe that I leave near the bin. I am not totally happy about this but like you I don't like furry visitors and I cant use a trap as I have a cat.

Belfast · Ash Tree Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 236 Location: CSA

How do I keep rats out of compost pile?
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about841.html

greengiant · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Thanks for the comments Belfast & Breezyacre...

verge

greengiant · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:43 am Post subject:

Thanks very much Verge. I searched high and low for the smallest mesh I could find and 13mm was the smallest; if not mice then here's hoping it'll help keep out any rats that happen to pay a visit!