If you are truly dedicated to having a successful home garden, composting is a big part of the plan. With a little strategy and a modest amount of work, you can convert yard trimmings, food scraps, etc., into compost that can be used in garden beds, in shrubs, or for potting soil for outdoor plants.
Here’s how to go about it, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency:
Compost Pile. Photo: addisongreen.info
Before you begin composting, you should understand the process. View what materials to compost and what materials not to compost and read up on the science behind composting about which variables must be controlled during composting.
All composting requires three basic ingredients:
- Browns—Includes materials such as dead leaves, branches , twigs
- Greens—Includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds
- Water
Having the right amount of greens, browns, and water is important for compost development. Ideally, your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens and alternate layers of organic materials of different-size particles.
The brown materials provide carbon for your compost and the green materials provide nitrogen, while the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.
What kind of tools will you need?
- Pitchfork
- Square-point shovel or machete
- Water hose with a spray head
There is no one “right” way to compost, but you may want to follow one of the approaches below:
Backyard Composting Approach 1
1. Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin.
2. Add your brown and green materials as you collect them, making sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded.
3. Moisten dry materials as they are added.
4. Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and green waste into the pile and bury fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material.
5. Optional: Cover top of compost with a tarp to keep it moist.
6. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is ready to use (this is usually occurs in two months to two years).
Backyard Composting Approach 2
1. Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin.
2. Before you add your brown and green materials, make sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded.
3. Cover your composting area with a 6-inch layer of brown materials.
4. Add a 3-inch layer of green materials and a little soil or finished compost.
5. Lightly mix the two layers above.
6. Top with a 3-inch layer of brown materials, adding water until moist.
7. Turn your compost pile every week or two with a pitchfork to distribute air and moisture. Move the dry materials from the edges into the middle of the pile. Continue this practice until the pile does not re-heat much after turning.
8. Your compost will be ready in one to four months, but let the pile sit for two weeks before using.
To read more about individual composting experiences, pricing bins, and more, click here.
Tags: compost pile, composting, Environmental Protection Agency, home garden
