By Eileendiver
South Glamorgan,
United Kingdom 
What's the correct way to prune back heather.? I would also like to know how to make compost without adding compost maker.
Thank you
ED
22 Mar, 2011
Answers
This is my composting "Bible"
http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/
22 Mar, 2011
I lightly trim over heathers with shears once they have finished flowering to keep them compact. Don't go to far back though - they don't tend to regrow from old wood.
22 Mar, 2011
A hedgetrimmer makes light work of heather trimming. As Anni says never cut back into old wood. It will not regrow,.
Many books suggest pruning yearly,. I find every other year is more than enough
One of my customer's heather gardens. Heathers pruned every other year
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31559373@N00/3380217786/
22 Mar, 2011
Prune your heathers back after they have finished flowering, it you have a lot you can use the strimmer for this.
We don't use any activator in our compost. Well aside from urine...
22 Mar, 2011