Using HOTBIN Compost: Storing For Later

Three Ways to Store Compost

With regards to storing compost it should be used ideally as soon as possible as the longer it is stored the more time it has to lose nutrients. Having said that, compost can be stored for the following season but it should be used up then in its entirety. You can also add more “food” to the pile if you are going to store it longer or mix it with an almost finished batch of compost. This will add more organisms and keep the compost viable.

If you do decide to store excess compost, we do have a couple of recommendations.

Remember to balance moisture content within the compost as if there is too much moisture you run the risk of your compost becoming mouldy after a time, but equally it should not be allowed to dry out completely either. As such, we recommend that you create a storage environment where it is still moist and nutrient rich for next season.

There are three different storage options that you could use:

1. Ground covered with a tarpaulin or plastic sheeting

This is one of the easiest methods of storing additional compost. By storing it on the ground you will prevent excess moisture from building up but it will provide your compost with some humidity which should help to keep the compost damp. Additionally, by storing the compost directly on the ground, you will enable worms to get into the compost pile where they will leave their rich castings behind. The downside to this method is that it does require quite a bit of space and can look unsightly.

2. Plastic carrier bags

Additional compost can be put into plastic carrier bags. If you choose to go down this route, then you should check the moisture levels once a week or so to ensure that the compost isn’t getting too wet or dry.

3. Rubbish bins

Alternatively, if you have a lot of compost which you would like to store, you could put it into domestic rubbish bins and then remove the compost easily as and when you want it. To ensure that the quality of your compost remains, we would recommend that you check the moisture levels in the bins once a week and stir the compost to bring the damp bottom layer of compost to the top. If the compost becomes evenly dry at any point, you can mist it lightly and stir the compost.