Last week I started working the soil in my garden and realized that I should take a soil sample before applying any compost or fertilizers. After I got the soil results back, I knew I was good after adding some lime and compost. I thought this week I could share some composting tips again.
Compost is the breakdown of organic materials by using microorganisms; this process recycles various materials such as grass clippings, leaves, garden waste, and kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peelings and even coffee grounds. You should never put meat, bones, or dairy products in a compost pile; these materials will not break down, making your compost very smelly and likely to attract animals.
Having your own compost pile will keep your cost down on purchasing soil, plus you will be helping the environment. Composting can be done near your garden, which will make it convenient.
There are two ways to compost — hot composting and cold composting.
Hot composting is a fast way to break down material but requires constant monitoring of the heat. This can be done with a compost thermometer that can be purchased at most lawn and garden centers and are very inexpensive. This composting method may require you to turn the pile, meaning taking the pile apart, making the outside of the pile the inside of the pile; doing this, you are putting oxygen and new organic material in the center. The smaller the compost pile, the faster the material will break down and be ready for your plants.
Hot composting should have a center pile temperature between 135-160°.
Hot composting can start with grass clippings, leaves, and some water. If you find the temp is not increasing after 48-72 hours, you may add an accelerator that can be purchased at garden centers. My favorite go-to accelerator is horse manure. It is FREE! After a few days, you will see the pile getting smaller; I would not put any more material on at this point; what should be done is check the temp and maybe turn the pile. This will allow air to flow from the bottom of the pile to the top. Keep the pile fluffy and wet. When turning the pile, you will find most of the material is starting to break down. When most of this material is undetectable, you may introduce this into your garden or stockpile for a later time. Be sure to save some of the compost to repeat the process.
Cold compost may take time, but the end product will be the same. Cold composting is basically putting a pile of organic material together, but once again will take a lot more time to break down.
What materials can be used to help contain the compost pile? They can be made from many different materials — plastic, metal, or even concrete. Plastic round bins seem to be the most popular. They will have pros and cons.
The pros of this are they can be small, and easy to turn the compost when the time is right and empty the bin since most are on a stand.
The major con I see with this is that when the time comes to fill this may be a bit messy and difficult since it is off the ground.
Some of my garden friends use concrete highway dividers. These can be very expensive but will last forever.
I personally use wire fencing with plastic cable ties to hold it together. This makes it very easy to turn the pile when the time comes. I cut the cable ties, pull the fence from around the pile, and set the fence up next to the pile using new cable ties to hold the fence together again. I turn the pile to ensure the outside is now the inside, the top is the bottom, and the bottom is the top.
If I see the compost is dry, I will take a garden hose and mist the layer as I put the pile back into the wire fence. Doing this helps the microorganisms break down the material; the material should be damp but not dripping wet. Too much water will be just as bad as not enough water.
A big tip I can give you is to mulch your leaves before putting them into your compost pile. The two easiest ways would be a lawn mower or a weed eater and a trash can. Put the leaves in the trash can and run the weed eater inside with the leaves. This is a bit messy, but it works. When you think you have them mulched or cut up enough, do it again. The smaller the leaves, the faster they will break down. Be careful what leaves and grass clipping you use. If the grass has had chemicals sprayed on them — I wouldn’t use those clippings.
Happy Gardening.
