As a young boy, I had to contend with my grandfather’s compost heap. It was a veritable Vesuvius of foul-smelling, putrescible plant waste, a metre high and hidden behind a privet hedge. We had placed ...

Creating a thriving garden often begins with a rich, nutrient-filled compost pile. However, many gardeners inadvertently create an inviting environment for unwanted pests, particularly rats. If you’ve ...

There’s a yardstick among gardeners that good, rich soil with lots of actively decaying organic matter in it should have about a dozen or more earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) in each cubic foot. But ...

If you want to reduce waste and grow healthier plants but don’t have a backyard, composting is still possible. You can easily start composting in small spaces like apartments or balconies using simple ...

As a young boy, I had to contend with my grandfather's compost heap. It was a veritable Vesuvius of foul-smelling, putrescible plant waste, a metre ...

Stacks of old bricks against an outdoor plastered wall. - Fotandy/Getty Images Composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden, as well as the planet. Not only does it reduce waste, it ...

The loyal reader knows that compost is my go-to for almost everything. I use it for mulch and to put the soil food web back into soils. I am a compost nerd. The question: What to do in the winter when ...