How to make compost – your scientific guide

From the right ratio of green and brown waste to regular aeration, here are some top tips for making compost, writes Clare Wilson

By Clare Wilson

What you need

A compost bin

Kitchen waste

Plenty of waste low in nitrogen, such as cardboard or sawdust

WE ALL like to get something for nothing, and one way to do that in gardening is to make your own compost from kitchen and garden waste. If all goes well, you end up with an earthy, fine brown crumb within a couple of years, which adds nutrients and structure to your soil. But get things wrong, and it turns into a slimy, stinking mess. So what are the dos and don’ts of composting?

The process is all …