Compost

[muskox]

Can I empty my vacuum cleaner content into the compost bin. It consists of hair, dried skin and fluff from carpets. There are also tiny white flies in the compost bin. Is this normal?

[nungate]

yes to both questions

[muskox]

I will do this tomorrow. Thank you for your replies

[Maydup]

Yes i always empty the hoover into the compost, and the white flies are normal. Probably hatched in this heat. Leave the lid off for a few hours on a dry day and give it a mix up.

[muskox]

I'll do this, but hope that I don't hurt the worms!

[Chipchopper]

It helps immensely to turn the compost occasionally to help with the decay process.
The worms should soon crawl deeper and sort themselves out.

[muskox]

Have turned my compost. It seemed very dry, so I gave it a water. I will have to think about leaving the top off the bin so that the rain water can get to it.

[Maydup]

I would think about the contents of the compost too if its a little dry musktox. Plenty of fruit and veg peelings, a few grass clippings, some weeds or spent flowers should provide enough moisture. If you are short of these then let the rain in but don't lose the heat in there by having the lid off too long. Add a couple of spadefuls of soil on top of the rain water and pop the lid back on.