All the plants you’re pulling up at the moment because they’ve finished flowering can go in the compost bin! The only things that shouldn’t are nasty weeds like dandelions that will carry on flowering and leave their seeds in the compost, or their nasty thick tap roots which won’t rot down.

Put leaves into leaf sacks though as they take longer to rot down. You can get wire baskets for these but a bag is just as good and can be stacked neatly away in a corner out of site. Leaves take at least 3 years to break down – but when they do it’s a lovely fine compost.

Your normal compost bin can have all the kitchen peelings too – don’t put cooked meats in though or bones.

Ideally you’ll have a couple of compost bins so you can leave them to rot down and start filling another. If you don’t have room then you might have to empty out and turn the compost and put the unrotted stuff back in.

Empty the compost bin in January when you’re digging runner bean beds and it doesn’t matter whether it’s all rotted down or not!

Have whatever style you like of compost bin – wooden or plastic. Entirely up to you. Put it in a shady corner of the garden! No point wasting a sunny spot with it – besides which if it gets too hot in the sun it’ll all dry out and not rot down as well.

Use a container for kitchen waste so you don’t have to pop down each time you peel some veg. Throw in coffee grounds and tea bags. Some people think the paper doesn’t break down quickly enough but they can always be picked out at the end if you spread compost on your beds.

Compost bins at Dobies

Earthmaker Compost Bin £144.95
A unique three chamber compost bin which uses gravity rather than hard labour to produce a great compost, allowing a continuous input of kitchen and garden waste in the top and providing a continuous source of compost from the bottom. Just slide out the removable floor of the top chamber every month or so and the contents tumble into the middle chamber, becoming mixed and aerated in the process, before maturing in the bottom chamber. It’s compact, odour-free, has a push-on door at the front and comes with an integrally stored ‘push-pull’ tool. Ideal for all ages and levels of mobility. Can digest 1000-1500kg of waste per year, and provide 20-30 litres of compost every month! Diameter 78cm (31″), height 113cm (3’8″); opening size 41cm (16″) wide, 32cm (13″) high.

Ventilated Compost Bin £69.95
A good sized, thoughtfully designed compost bin, built to last by AL-KO in tough recycled polyurethane. 30 carefully designed air vents provide just the right amount of ventilation for successful composting. Large top filling hatch, and two side hatches for compost removal. Flat-packed and easily assembled. 66cm (26″) square x 110cm (43″) high. 390 litres (14 cu.ft.) capacity.

Beehive Compost Bin £99.95
This beehive-shaped compost bin is a more decorative option for home composting than some others you may see. The lid is held open with a handy prop and there is a bottom-opening flap for easy compost retrieval. Built from FSC certified, pressure treated soft wood, it will never need treating, and comes with manufacturer’s 15 year guarantee against rot. Flat packed for home assembly. 74cm (29″) x 74cm (29″) x 86cm (39″) high. Capacity 272 litres. Please allow up to 14 days for delivery.

Wooden Compost Module £69.95
We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters!Can be assembled in minutes – no nails, screws or holes to dig.Slide-out panels on all sides for easy access.573 litres (20 cu.ft.) capacity per module. Wood provides good insulation, while allowing the compost to ‘breathe’.Timber is from managed forests, and treated with non-toxic preservative.8 page guide booklet included.Size 91cm (3′) square x 68cm (27″) high. (Wooden Compost Module comprises 2 posts & 15 panels.)

Lid for Modular Wooden Compost Bin £29.95
Hinged in the middle to give easy access to the modules, these handy wooden compost bin lids are designed to prevent access to the bins by vermin.

Biodegradable Leaf Sacks Pack of 3 £8.95
Many gardens generate far more leaves than a traditional compost bin can accommodate, and leaves don’t actually need the heat of a compost to rot down. Simply fill these biodegradable jute sacks with leaves in the autumn, stand them in an out of the way corner of your garden, and the following spring you’ll have nutritious leaf mould compost! (Pack of 3)

Modular Wooden Compost Bins £89.95
We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters!Can be assembled in minutes – no nails, screws or holes to dig.Slide-out panels on all sides for easy access.573 litres (20 cu.ft.) capacity per module.Wood provides good insulation, while allowing the compost to ‘breathe’.Timber is from managed forests, and treated with non-toxic preservative.8 page guide booklet included.You can start with one, but we’d recommend two (Bin and Module) to get the benefit of being able to easily turn the heap from one bin to the other. And when you’ve seen how well they work, you can add extra modules in the future. Size 91cm (3′) square x 68cm (27″) high. (Comprises 4 posts & 20 panels.)

Timber Compost Bin £89.95
Pressure treated for longer life, our robust Timber Compost Bin boasts a 756 litre (27cu.ft.) capacity, has a protective cover to prevent the contents getting too wet or too dry and a door at the bottom of the front for easy access to the finished compost. Size: 94cm (37″) x 94cm (37″) x 89cm (35″) high. Flat packed for home assembly; some drilling required. 14 Days

Wooden Compost Bin and Module £149.90
We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters.Can be assembled in minutes, no nails, screws or holes to dig.573 litres (20 cu. ft.) capacity per module.Wood provides good insulation, allowing the compost to ‘breathe’, the timber is from managed forest and treated with non-toxic preservative.Supplied with 8-page guide booklet.You can start with one, but we recommend two (Bin & Module) to get the benefit of being able to turn the heap from one bin to the other. And when you’ve seen how well they work, you can add extra modules in the future. Size 91cm (3′) square by 68cm (27″) high. (Comprises Wooden Compost Bin – 4 posts & 20 panels; Module – 2 posts & 15 panels.)