Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and soil amendment. It is a cheap and effective way to ensure your garden has nutrient-rich soil to grow in. If you do composting right, you may never have to buy fertilizer again, proving once again that Mother Nature is more effective than do-it-yourself home and garden centers.
What you need to compost
For composting organisms to work effectively they require four things.
- Carbon (for energy)
Materials high in carbon typically are brown and "dry," like dead leaves, sawdust, and some dead weeds (as long as they haven't seeded).
- Nitrogen (for growth and reproduction)
Materials high in nitrogen are green and "wet," like fruits, vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings (though it's probably better to leave them in the yard so they can benefit the soil directly), and green leaves.
- Oxygen (for the decomposition process)
- Water (for maintaining activity)
Why you need oxygen
Since composting microbes are aerobic, they need oxygen to work. If there's no oxygen, anaerobic microbes take over the pile, which will eventually make your yard smell like a garbage dump and attract more pests than necessary.
To keep your compost pile from smelling like a trash heap, make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the bin you're storing your compost in. You also need to systematically turn your compost to allow oxygen to get to the bottom of the pile.
Why you need water
Water provides the microbes a habitat and makes it easier for them to move throughout the pile. Though, monitoring the water levels in a compost pile can be tricky and is often overlooked.
Ideally, your compost pile should have the moisture level of a wrung-out sponge.
If the pile is too dry, composting will slow down considerably because the microbes can't move throughout the pile and will be scrambling for shelter.
If the pile is too wet, composting will slow down considerably because the moisture will restrict the flow of oxygen to the pile.
To get the watering process right, pay attention to what you're putting in. If you're adding a lot of dry material, you might want to wet it beforehand. If you're adding wet material, monitor how much. Too much wet means too much moisture.
During rainy seasons, to prevent over-watering, you might need to put a tarp over the pile from time to time.
During dry seasons, you may have to water the pile a bit to keep the moisture levels up.
You also need heat
Compost piles need heat to work properly. If you have good aeration and moisture and the proper mix of ingredients, you're pile will decompose at 50 degrees F or above.
Hotter piles will decompose faster.
To make your pile hotter, line the bin with hay bales or dried leaves or cover your pile with a tarp, but be careful. Remember oxygen. Your compost needs ventilation to work properly.
Also, pay attention to the size of your compost. The larger the bin, the longer it takes to heat up and the harder it is to store that heat. If the pile is too small, however, it won't have enough insulation to retain the heat long enough for the process to work properly.
Don't worry about your compost pile during winter. During colder temperatures, your compost will go dormant. When temperatures rise again, the pile will wake up.
How long does the process take?
The composting process is never finished. You'll know when you can start using the compost because finished compost is dark in color and has an earthy-smell.
You also won't be able to recognize the original ingredients, although some hard-to-decompose material such as straw may still be recognizable.
If you're using the compost for outside gardens you've already planted, it's okay if some compost hasn't finished breaking down all the way. Go ahead and use it. The mixture will finish rotting in the soil.
If you're using the compost in seed-starting mixes, however, it's best to use completely decomposed compost because some microbes can attack young root systems before they're strong enough to defend themselves.
What to do with the compost
Some people work their compost into the soil before planting.
Some people bury table scraps directly into the ground. This technique is used to ward off potential pests.
Some people leave the compost on the surface to act as mulch.
Some people sprinkle it over their yard like seeds.
Some people make compost tea by combining equal parts compost and water and letting it sit for awhile. The tea can then be used on house plants or any other plant for that matter. (If you're using it on seedlings, dilute the compost even more.) Also, the same compost can be used to make several batches of tea.
Some people do all of the above.
What NOT to compost
Meat, bone, and fatty food wastes
This will attract big pests. Plus, fatty foods don't break down because they don't let in oxygen.
Treated wood products
If you're using sawdust, be sure to know the origin of the wood. Chemically-treated wood products will release toxins like arsenic into the soil. Fried green arsenic-laced
tomatoes, coming right up. Yum!
Diseased plants
You'll reinfect next year's crop if you compost diseased plants. Granted, heat will kill a lot of disease, but you can never be sure. It's safer to just throw diseased plants in the trash, not in your compost pile.
Persnickety weeds
What you sow now you will have to reap later. If you
compost weeds that have already seeded, you'll be plucking
those same weeds out of next year's garden. Before
composting, make sure the weeds are dead and completely
dry, and even then, be cautious.
Human and pet waste
Disease, disease, and more disease. Just know that whatever you put in your compost will come back on your plate. Keep that in mind before tossing your dog's poo into the mix. Gross.
Other tips
Worms help the process.
If you are digging in the garden and stumble upon a worm, chuck it in the compost pile. Or better yet, buy a Worm Starter Kit.
Also, create a "swill bucket" for your kitchen.
Every morning, instead of dumping yesterday's coffee grounds into the trash, dump it in the swill bucket instead. When you eat a banana, toss the peel in the bucket. It takes a bit of getting used to, but eventually collecting ingredients for your compost will become second nature, and you'll be thankful for it. Not only will it be better for your plants, it will also keep your kitchen trash from stinking so much. Double bonus.
The benefits of composting far outweigh the small amount of manual labor and remembering it takes to start and maintain your own pile. Be patient with it. The moment you see that first batch of finished compost, you'll be hooked and never want to buy store-bought fertilizer again.
Want to build a compost bin? Check out this article.
For composting organisms to work effectively they require four things.
- Carbon (for energy)
Materials high in carbon typically are brown and "dry," like dead leaves, sawdust, and some dead weeds (as long as they haven't seeded).
- Nitrogen (for growth and reproduction)
Materials high in nitrogen are green and "wet," like fruits, vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings (though it's probably better to leave them in the yard so they can benefit the soil directly), and green leaves.
- Oxygen (for the decomposition process)
- Water (for maintaining activity)
Why you need oxygen
Since composting microbes are aerobic, they need oxygen to work. If there's no oxygen, anaerobic microbes take over the pile, which will eventually make your yard smell like a garbage dump and attract more pests than necessary.
To keep your compost pile from smelling like a trash heap, make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the bin you're storing your compost in. You also need to systematically turn your compost to allow oxygen to get to the bottom of the pile.
Why you need water
Water provides the microbes a habitat and makes it easier for them to move throughout the pile. Though, monitoring the water levels in a compost pile can be tricky and is often overlooked.
Ideally, your compost pile should have the moisture level of a wrung-out sponge.
If the pile is too dry, composting will slow down considerably because the microbes can't move throughout the pile and will be scrambling for shelter.
If the pile is too wet, composting will slow down considerably because the moisture will restrict the flow of oxygen to the pile.
To get the watering process right, pay attention to what you're putting in. If you're adding a lot of dry material, you might want to wet it beforehand. If you're adding wet material, monitor how much. Too much wet means too much moisture.
During rainy seasons, to prevent over-watering, you might need to put a tarp over the pile from time to time.
During dry seasons, you may have to water the pile a bit to keep the moisture levels up.
You also need heat
Compost piles need heat to work properly. If you have good aeration and moisture and the proper mix of ingredients, you're pile will decompose at 50 degrees F or above.
Hotter piles will decompose faster.
To make your pile hotter, line the bin with hay bales or dried leaves or cover your pile with a tarp, but be careful. Remember oxygen. Your compost needs ventilation to work properly.
Also, pay attention to the size of your compost. The larger the bin, the longer it takes to heat up and the harder it is to store that heat. If the pile is too small, however, it won't have enough insulation to retain the heat long enough for the process to work properly.
Don't worry about your compost pile during winter. During colder temperatures, your compost will go dormant. When temperatures rise again, the pile will wake up.
How long does the process take?
The composting process is never finished. You'll know when you can start using the compost because finished compost is dark in color and has an earthy-smell.
You also won't be able to recognize the original ingredients, although some hard-to-decompose material such as straw may still be recognizable.
If you're using the compost for outside gardens you've already planted, it's okay if some compost hasn't finished breaking down all the way. Go ahead and use it. The mixture will finish rotting in the soil.
If you're using the compost in seed-starting mixes, however, it's best to use completely decomposed compost because some microbes can attack young root systems before they're strong enough to defend themselves.
What to do with the compost
Some people work their compost into the soil before planting.
Some people bury table scraps directly into the ground. This technique is used to ward off potential pests.
Some people leave the compost on the surface to act as mulch.
Some people sprinkle it over their yard like seeds.
Some people make compost tea by combining equal parts compost and water and letting it sit for awhile. The tea can then be used on house plants or any other plant for that matter. (If you're using it on seedlings, dilute the compost even more.) Also, the same compost can be used to make several batches of tea.
Some people do all of the above.
What NOT to compost
Meat, bone, and fatty food wastes
This will attract big pests. Plus, fatty foods don't break down because they don't let in oxygen.
Treated wood products
If you're using sawdust, be sure to know the origin of the wood. Chemically-treated wood products will release toxins like arsenic into the soil. Fried green arsenic-laced
tomatoes, coming right up. Yum!
Diseased plants
You'll reinfect next year's crop if you compost diseased plants. Granted, heat will kill a lot of disease, but you can never be sure. It's safer to just throw diseased plants in the trash, not in your compost pile.
Persnickety weeds
What you sow now you will have to reap later. If you
compost weeds that have already seeded, you'll be plucking
those same weeds out of next year's garden. Before
composting, make sure the weeds are dead and completely
dry, and even then, be cautious.
Human and pet waste
Disease, disease, and more disease. Just know that whatever you put in your compost will come back on your plate. Keep that in mind before tossing your dog's poo into the mix. Gross.
Other tips
Worms help the process.
If you are digging in the garden and stumble upon a worm, chuck it in the compost pile. Or better yet, buy a Worm Starter Kit.
Also, create a "swill bucket" for your kitchen.
Every morning, instead of dumping yesterday's coffee grounds into the trash, dump it in the swill bucket instead. When you eat a banana, toss the peel in the bucket. It takes a bit of getting used to, but eventually collecting ingredients for your compost will become second nature, and you'll be thankful for it. Not only will it be better for your plants, it will also keep your kitchen trash from stinking so much. Double bonus.
The benefits of composting far outweigh the small amount of manual labor and remembering it takes to start and maintain your own pile. Be patient with it. The moment you see that first batch of finished compost, you'll be hooked and never want to buy store-bought fertilizer again.
Want to build a compost bin? Check out this article.
