HOTBIN compost should ideally be used as soon as possible as the longer it is stored the more nutrients it will lose. There are a variety of ways to use your HOTBIN compost, check out our suggestions.
However, compost can be stored for the following season, but it should be used up during that season in its entirety.
If you do decide to store excess compost, remember to balance moisture content within the compost. 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.
Storage Options:
Ground Covered with a Tarpaulin / 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.
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 is not getting too wet or dry.
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.