Making compost reduces food waste, improves garden soil, and helps the environment. All organic material decomposes naturally. You can speed up the process with some of these tips and tricks–and avoid some annoying mistakes.
Why Compost?
Composting is good for the environment, good for gardens and flower beds, and saves money.
- Over 90% of discarded food is burned or goes to landfills–releasing harmful methane gas.
- Compost improves soil more than any store-bought fertilizer–chemical or organic.
- Making your own compost saves the cost of buying it and the disposal costs of waste pick-up or hauling.
- Composting is an excellent way to get rid of grass clipping and fall leaves.
12 Tips To Make Better Compost
Incorporating 2 -3 inches of compost into gardens and flower beds improves soil fertility and plant production. Making good compost quickly gives you more material to work with.
What To Compost
Almost any organic material–grass, leaves, paper and cardboard (shredded), vegetable and fruit scraps and peels, etc.–can be composted. Some items may surprise you.
- Egg Shells.
- Manure and Pet Bedding. Including chicken, rabbit, guinea pig, etc. bedding.
- Cardboard. Shredded.
- Peanut Shells. Almost all nut shells.
- Stale Foods. Flour, spices, pasta, crackers, etc. past their best before dates.
- Coffee Grounds and Tea Leaves. Compostable tea bags should be shredded.
- Moldy Food. Bread, cheese, and fruits and vegetables too old to eat safely.
What Not To Compost
Some materials–like, glass, plastic, rocks, and metal–do not break down regardless of how hot the compost pile or how long they remain in it. Other items to keep out of compost include:
- Bones and Meat Scraps. Do not break down properly. Rot and attract pests like rats and stray cats.
- Grease.
- Dairy Products.
- Seafood.
- Pet Poop. Including kitty litter. Pet feces may contain parasites. It may not compost completely–especially in “cold” compost.
- Anything Sprayed. Herbicides, pesticides, and some chemical fertilizers may not break down in compost, will leach into soil, and contaminate vegetables and flowers.
No Biodegradable Plastic Or Produce Stickers
Most biodegradable plastics do not completely decompose. They leave microplastics in your compost that remain in your garden and flower beds forever. Studies show that some microplastics can be absorbed by plants. Produce stickers on fruits and vegetables are plastic and do not decompose at all.
Keep Weed Seeds Out Of the Compost
Do not toss weeds that have gone to seed into the compost. Weed seeds have evolved to withstand extreme temperatures. Even hot compost may not break them down. Many weeds sprout and thrive in compost.
Grass Clippings
A pile of lawn grass clippings is not a compost pile. It is usually just a smelly moldy useless mess. The clippings need to be mixed in thin layers with “brown” material like straw, cardboard, or paper that adds carbon. Turning the pile every 7 -10 days speeds up the decomposition, adds air, and prevents compaction.
Build a Compost Bin
Containing compost inside an enclosure is more efficient than just throwing everything on a pile. Five pallets make a good 4-sided bin with a base. Wrapping it with fine mesh wire like metal lath deters pests. Do not use treated wood. The chemicals will leach into the compost. Some are toxic.
Composters and compost bins are available online, from home building supply outlets, and garden centers. Sizes range from small countertop units to large outdoor enclosures. Small composters supply enough material for a few potted plants.
Consider Two Bins
If you have the room and materials, consider building two compost bins close together. Turning a large compost pile efficiently in one bin can be frustrating. A second bin allows you to mix it thoroughly as you move it. Or use the second bin to start more compost. This provides a continuous supply of compost.
Use the Proper Mixture
Compost piles need four ingredients to work effectively. It should be about one part green to three parts brown.
- Green Matter. Grass, Weeds. vegetable tops, vegetable peels, etc.
- Brown Matter. Straw, dead leaves, shredded cardboard and paper, etc.
- Water. Once the pile starts decomposing, rain may be enough to keep it moist. You may have to water it if the pile gets too dry to continue working. If you squeeze a handful of compost and water drips out, it is too wet.
- Air. Turning the compost regularly–every 7 – 10 days for best results–throughout the year provides oxygen for the microbes breaking down the material.
Use Compost Starter
Decomposition starts naturally without any help. It starts much quicker if you add a commercial compost starter or aged manure. Incorporate the manure throughout the pile while you are building it. Sprinkle the compost starter on top of the pile after it is done–then water it in. Compost should have the same moisture content and feel as a wet wrung-out sponge.
Compost Smells Bad
Smelly compost is an indication the pile is not working properly. The odor is often caused by too much moisture. Turn to compost and add more brown material–straw, shredded cardboard, egg cartons, etc.–to absorb excess moisture.
Build In Layers
Construct your compost pile in layers for the best results. Start with a layer of brown material. Straw is ideal. It absorbs and holds moisture. Then a layer of green material. Add a thin layer of garden soil to import microbes. Repeat until the pile is complete. Water as you build to ensure the center of the pile starts out wet.
Including manure or sprinkling compost starter on each layer gets your compost started quicker.
A straw bale costs up to $40.00 at a garden center or building supply outlet. It costs around $5.00 at a farm store or farmer’s gate.
How To Compost Dense Plant Debris
Dense and woody debris like corncobs, corn plants, sunflower plants, and small branches will compost but it requires more time. Chop them up or pulverize them with a hammer to speed up the process. Putting them through a wood chipper–if you have access to one–is an excellent way to help them decompose quickly and add moisture to the pile.
