Composting help and Timothy hay
by
Jodi
+7
Just started a barrel (55 gallon plastic which I drilled holes in on 4 sides). So grandson decides he wants to help fill it. He shoveled some spent sunflowers seeds into it. Not sure if they will break down so I stopped him after about 3 or 4 gallons worth. The we went through the huge pile of timothy hay which is from my guinea pigs house. Grand daughter threw a whole peeled banana in too since she said her tummy was full. The barrel is 2/3 full already! So this wasn't a good start. What's the ratio for starting a barrel? I get a lot of timothy hay as I change the piggies house out every 3 days and we use a C&C cage system with the hay for litter, bedding and munching. I use about 96 ounces a week. I used to burn the hay weekly but now I figure I should use it. The wild rabbits have been at the pile so I'll leave part there for them too. I wanted to see about mixing some hay into the soil for my container plants too. Thanks for any help. I think I'm a bit overwhelmed.
5 answers
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You say 'hay' but I'm not sure whether you are talking about alfalfa, wheat, oat, etc. It does make a difference as some of the ones like the stalks of wheat, oat, etc. actually rob nitrogen from compost and soil, in order to decompose. Alfalfa will add to your soil although just the bare stalks, sans leaves, won't be of great benefit except to add to the bulk for a soil amendment. I usually pile items like this next to my compost bin and add them a (fairly thin) layer at a time along with all the kitchen scraps (sans any meat items), other plants (without any seeds), etc. Since I have a very tight clay soil, I also add a small amount of soil and, sometimes, some finished compost to the layers...leaves, and rabbit manure, also.
Bonny McDaniel
on Apr 08, 2015
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I would put very little of the timothy hay stems into this compost barrel. If you have a spot to compost leaves and heavier items, I would layer it with that. It just takes a long time for that to break down although the very fine stems might work OK...just my suggestions and years of composting, especially when I had horses, goats, etc. I compost now, but just a small area although I hope to make a two-bin unit out of pallets.
Bonny McDaniel
on Apr 08, 2015
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That solution will be the best of both worlds! Yes, put some of the dry leaves and the kitchen scraps (veggie, fruit, coffee grounds, even paper towels) into the barrel along with a small amount of the hay/stems, a little bit of soil, etc. and you will have a nice amount of rich compost in a short while. Don't let it get too soggy. Sometimes the kitchen scraps are enough moisture but you might have to add a little bit of water. The 'slow cook' will probably need more moisture and might even need a cover (black plastic works well) over it in rainy weather...good luck! I received some iris from a lady two years ago and last summer her husband saw my photos of the lovely blooms and remarked that their iris didn 't look that good. I said "But you don't have my compost in your flower bed!" and that, I'm sure, was the difference.
Bonny McDaniel
on Apr 08, 2015
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You are most welcome. Here's another helpful hint. If you must buy some commercial compost before yours is ready, put a couple of shovel fulls into that barrel...it will hasten the process of breaking down your raw materials. You could also use that method in the future for both the big pile and the barrel...always save back some finished compost and use it as a 'starter' in your new compost.
Bonny McDaniel
on Apr 08, 2015
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Funny, I was thinking that when I told you about it! Also, if you have a leaf blower that also vacuums and chops up the leaves, that is better than putting in whole leaves.
Bonny McDaniel
on Apr 09, 2015
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