Avoid these foods to keep rats out of your compost heap this autumn
Composting at home is an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to reduce food waste and feed your garden .
It is made from decomposed organic materials like banana peels, egg shells, or dead leaves.
But knowing what food is safe to compost can be tricky. Luckily, an expert has shared her tips on how best to compost, reports the Express .
READ MORE:How coffee could save your garden this autumn
READ MORE:Monty Don shares 'instant' way to get rid of black spots on your roses
Angela Slater, gardening expert at Hayes Garden World, said: “Disposing of your leftovers into a compost pile rather than your household bin reduces the amount of waste that will ultimately end up in landfills.
“In turn, this helps to minimise the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Leftover food is also hugely beneficial for soil health, with composting encouraging the soil to hold water and nutrients for longer and improving many of its overall physical properties.
“This event contributes towards higher crop yields, meaning that throwing your food waste into a compost heap could lead to a flourishing garden.
“Composting is equally a great way to combat the guilt we all feel when letting our food go to waste. Knowing that our leftovers can have a purpose beyond our dinner plates will make mealtimes much more enjoyable.”
To compost successfully, several common foods should be binned rather than composted.
For example, meat and fish, as well as baked goods like cake, bread and biscuits should all be thrown away.
These foods will attract mice and rats, as they “breed bacteria and cause odour problems,” according to Angela.
She also warns against cooked foods, dairy products like milk, sour cream, yoghurt, cheese and butter because they will attract vermin and go mouldy in the compost bin.
Other processed food that contain a lot of fat or dairy, such as butter and oils.
Angela says that fruits are perfect for compost, especially banana peels which add “valuable potassium” to the fertilizer.
She added: “Just chop into pieces prior to adding to the compost. Crushed eggshells are also valuable compost material as they inject calcium.”
Other experts also recommend having a mix of green materials, which add nitrogen, and drier, brown material which is high in carbon. This creates the right conditions for healthy compost that won’t attract pests.
After the food and yard scraps are added to the heap, turn the compost about once per month, to introduce air to the heap.
The heap should be moist throughout the year, but be careful not to make it too wet. Too much water will prevent air flow, which will make the compost process even slower.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .