When it comes to reducing your kitchen and garden waste, improving soil health and creating a safer environment for everyone, there’s really nothing better than composting.
Why Compost?
Composting saves you money by reducing garbage collection costs, lowering your water bills and limiting the need for commercial soils. Composting also reduces your impact on the Earth by limiting your additions to the local landfill and eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers.
What is Compost?
So, what exactly is composting? Composting is the process of recycling organic materials, like yard waste and kitchen scraps, into a rich soil-like material. This process occurs naturally in forests and meadows and, to some extent, in everyone’s yards and gardens. But, by creating your own dedicated compost pile, you can reap the benefits of this natural fertilizer now and well into the future.
How to Compost
To begin a compost pile of your own, choose an out-of-the-way location, since the heap may appear untidy. Summer is the best time to start a new compost pile, and compost started in the summertime will be ready for fall gardening. Decomposition happens naturally, but requires both heat and moisture for quick breakdown. The sun will provide the heat, but you will need to soak the compost area with water occasionally, which will provide the moisture. A light sprinkling of fertilizer will also help further decomposition and replace lost nitrogen. Animal manures are rich, valuable garden soil additives and can be used between the layers of compost. The heat generated by the manure will result in quick decomposition of raw compost.
How Big is Too Big?
Your compost pile should be a minimum of three feet square in order to be large enough to maintain the heat necessary for composting. Limit the pile to no more than five feet high because it will compact and make it impossible for oxygen to reach the material inside. Compost should be turned with a garden fork occasionally in order to aerate it and promote even breakdown. If you want compost very quickly, turn the pile every three days, but more frequent turning is not recommended.
What Items Can I Compost?
Grass clippings, potato peelings, onion tops and other vegetable and green waste material can be made into a valuable soil conditioner and plant food for fall garden beds. Make sure not to put weeds, animal feces, meat cuttings, or dairy items into the pile. Egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds are just fine, but just make sure you add these items to the center of your pile. Materials such as leaves, lawn cuttings, straw, and sawdust make excellent compost.
How to Use Compost
Organic compost can be used in your garden in several ways. Compost is a great fertilizer and provides important nutrients to your plants. It improves soil texture, and water and nutrient retention. Sprinkle compost over newly planted seeds and around seedlings. Work compost into the soil before planting larger plants, or use it as mulch on the soil surface to control weeds. Add compost to your potted plants for beautiful results. No matter how you use your compost, you'll enjoy healthier plants and you can feel good about minimizing your impact on the environment.
For more information and composting resources visit the National Composting Council.
Andrea Gifford - Andrea Gifford writes about everything from travel to cooking, with articles at USAToday.com, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Odyssey ...
Join the Conversation