Why do compost heaps have holes in the side

This allows the beneficial insects to crawl up into the bin. These insects will speed up the decomposition process and are naturally occur in a healthy compost pile. Put hardware cloth or wire mesh underneath the compost bin to prevent the larger animals from digging underneath and into the bin.

If a compost pile is set on cement, it is likely that the cement will be stained. For a worm bin, it does not matter if it is placed on cement or on dirt. It is more important that the bin is in the shade. People often even keep worm bins inside their garage, under their counter, or in a closet. Most people do not want to put their compost bin directly up against their house because of smell and pest attraction fears. If you are composting correctly, neither of these problems should be of issue.

How close you put your bin to your house should more so be determined by hose length if your bin is further away than your hose is long, you'll be lugging buckets over to your pile! If you don't see yourself hoofing it across the yard to dump out your kitchen scraps, then you probably shouldn't put your bin all the way across your yard. As for the pests and smells, err on the side of caution.

If something goes wrong in your pile and it starts to smell or you get an unwanted visitor, it's better away from your house than directly under your kitchen window. If you plan on being an active composter and turning your compost pile, it is important that you have a space twice the size of your compost bin. This allows you to turn and then rebuild your bin directly next to where it was previously sitting.

Log in. Forgot password or user name? Should a compost bin have holes at the side for air? Posts Latest Activity Photos. Page of 1. Filtered by:. Previous template Next. I have just been given two dalek type compost bins for my allotment. They have no holes in the side, but I thought the composting process needed a good supply of oxygen in order to work well.

Should I still a series of holes in the side? Thank you. Tags: None. Small pumpkin. Personally I wouldn't. I've got 3 darleks and they work very well as they are. In the meantime, try wrapping your fruit and vegetable peelings in newspaper before you put them in the caddy. This will discourage the fruit flies from landing on the fresh material and also provides a good mix of 'green' and 'brown' material when it gets to the compost bin. If your caddy has a lid, try keeping it closed when not in use.

Regular emptying and washing the caddy may also help. Skip to main content. Use the links below to navigate to the question you have: What should I put at the bottom of the compost bin? What style of bin can I use to recycle food waste without attracting small animals? Can I start to fill my compost bin at any time of the year?

How do insects enter the compost bin? What are the best conditions for a compost heap? What are the recommendations for composting when you keep chickens?

Can my compost bin be secured to the ground in any way? One of my bins is an old strawberry tub. Should I cover it with a piece of carpet to keep the heat in and will the holes affect the process? Does a compost heap need to have a lid? Can I site a compost bin in my shed? I'm being plagued by fruit flies from my kitchen caddy. How can I discourage them? How do I prevent small animals burrowing under the edge of the compost bin? What should I put at the bottom of the compost bin?

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