The Good Compost Guide

By Matt Jackson

Recycling is all the rage at present, and what better way to recycle than to reuse your own items? Creating your own compost has a great many benefits, not only to the environment, but also to your garden and to your pocket. The cost of creating your own compost ranges from next-to-nothing to absolutely nothing and once finished, the mulch you've created will help your garden flourish. It improves the texture and strength of the soil, increases the nutrients in the ground and optimizes the grounds water retention. It is also very easy to do and once you've got the hang of the basics you won't even think twice when you next compost.

Helping the Environment

If environmental issues are your concern - and they should be everybody's concern - then creating your own compost should help you sleep easier at night. Not only are more and more cities refusing to collect most garden waste and some household waste, but landfills are packed to the rafters with perfectly good compost material.

Preparation for Creating Your Own Compost

While it isn't strictly necessary, you may want to purchase in a good compost bin or compost container. That said, a compost pile in the corner of the garden will suffice equally well and can be hidden with plants that will undoubtedly flourish around such rich ground. Make sure your compost pile is easily accessible, otherwise you will find yourself ignoring it in favor of the trashcan simply because it is easier to reach. Any more preparation will depend on whether you are a passive or aggressive composter.

Ensuring Optimal Conditions to Create the Best Compost

All organic matter will eventually decompose yielding an effective compost or mulch, however, given the right conditions you can speed up and maximize the process to give the best results. There is actually a lot to be said for aggressively managing your compost pile. As well as giving you the possibility of having several yields of compost every year instead of one yield every year or two, managing your compost pile will promote a greater level of heat. This heat causes seeds and even plant diseases to be destroyed giving you a purer form of humus.

Combining Nitrogen With Oxygen in Your Compost Pile

Bear in mind that a grass pile is not a good compost pile. Grass cuttings, like other green products, are rich in nitrogen. Nitrogen is a vital part to the composting process but only in comparatively small amounts. You should be aiming for much more brown material, rich in oxygen, such as dead leaves or pine needles. By using a weight ratio of around 20 brown to 1 green you should be ensuring the best combination of oxygen and nitrogen. As a good general rule, the smaller the items you place onto your compost pile the quicker they will decompose. This is especially important when considering large plant leaves. Be aware that certain plant and tree leaves should be avoided completely (see 'Items to Avoid' below) because they can be harmful to your plants or to your compost.

The Correct Level of Water and Air Is Vital

Another important point to remember is that quick decomposition can only be achieved with the correct levels of water. Too much or too little water will slow or stop the decomposition process. Ensuring that the pile is damp, but not too soaking is one of the most effective ways to manage your compost production. Also ensure that your pile receives a good level of airflow throughout. This can be done with a good combination of finer composting materials combined with more coarse materials that will help to drain moisture through the pile and ensure that air is allowed to circulate throughout.

Items to Avoid

You should never add meat or bone scraps to any compost pile. Not only do these take much longer to decompose than the rest of the pile, but they also begin to smell foul very quickly and attract all sorts of pests. The same is also true of fish. While manure can be very beneficial to a compost pile, do not use cat or dog litter because they can be diseased to an extent that even the heat from the compost pile will not sterilize them enough for safe and effective use. While some forms of ash can be beneficial, those obtained from coal generally contain materials that damage plants. Avoid using leaves from the magnolia, oak, holly, black walnut, and poison ivy as they can either be damaging or take too long to decompose.

Diseased Plants and Weeds Can Be Added to Your Pile

You can, however, add diseased plants and weeds, presuming that your compost pile decomposes at a high heat. The temperature will destroy or kill the diseases and the seeds, leaving you with only the benefits of the materials you have added. If you are unsure, avoid adding them to your compost just to be on the safe side.

Preference for a Compost Pile

A compost pile is a very good way of ensuring that you have as much heat as possible in your compost. Generally speaking, the bigger the pile the more effective it will be when it comes to decomposition. Turn or mix the compost fairly regularly to ensure that it remains aerated and the air is circulated effectively throughout the compost pile.

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