Gardening – Complete Guide to Composting

COMPLETE GUIDE TO COMPOSTING

A generational eco trend that will replenish your garden whilst saving on bin waste.

If you are looking for a staple of eco living, venture no further than composting. This practice of letting scraps, waste and off-cuttings decompose away to produce a refreshingly dense, fertile, and wholly beneficial layer of goodness for your outdoor space predates almost all the green, recycling and energy conservation moves and initiatives we have now embedded into our everyday lives. And rightly so, since creating compost actually reduces the effort required in dealing with throwaway materials.

That said, to get your compost really producing the type of nutrient-rich humus that will bring lawns, beds and green areas flourishing back to life, there are a few useful tips you may want to pay attention to.

Carbon vs nitrogen

Getting the balance between these two correct will ultimately define just how good your compost is. Carbon matter includes branches, stems, wood, paper bags, coffee filters, eggshells, wood ash and more. It is this carbon layer that will give your compost space, lightness, and a fluffy consistency.

Nitrogen-heavy matter, on the other hand, includes food waste, manure, and kitchen waste, and provides a heavier, protein-rich presence.

For the best compost, you will want to look for one-third green versus two-thirds brown material – in other words, more carbon (the nice-smelling stuff) than nitrogen (the less-nice smelling stuff).

If you are uncertain of your ratios, the simple rule is to add more carbon.

A few don’ts

Do not put meat, bones, or fish scraps in your compost. Not only will they smell, but they will also attract pests, and you will soon find yourself clearing up the remnants of foxes, cats, and other night roamers.

Obviously, it is smart to keep weeds or diseased plants away from your mix; while beware banana peels and orange rinds, as these may contain pesticide residues.

Straw law

Many believe straw is the secret weapon where composting is concerned. It is a great way to ensure a good carbon/nitrogen balance, whilst adding oxygen space. You can also cut out some of the labour-heavy turning (see below) if you have a respectably high straw content.

Getting started

When it comes to kicking off your composting revolution, find a space on bare earth so that worms and other organisms can access and aerate your compost, all the while transferring it into your beds.

Lay twigs or straw down, then begin to build your compost layer by layer, remembering your carbon and nitrogen mix, and ensuring plenty of gaps are left in between levels so that oxygen can work its magic.

Watering the compost can be a good idea and covering the top with a sheet will help it retain moisture and heat, as well as preventing it from becoming drenched by downpours of rain. Aeration using a shovel, and a generous turn every week or so will keep the compost evolving and speeds up the process towards completion.

Is the air there?

The big requirement for composting is oxygen, and its ability to find a route through the kitchen and yard waste you are disposing of. In landfill, the organic matter is tightly packed and covered over, and the lack of air produces methane gas, which is harmful to the environment. Always consider this when composting.

Temperature

A healthy compost pile will reach extremely high temperatures – up to 150°F at the middle. You may even see the compost steaming away – this is a good sign and shows that your microscopic critters are doing their thing.

Spreading

When you have accessed your compost, spread at thickness of up to one inch before adding a wood mulch layer to lock in all that nutrient-rich goodness. Your plants, lawns and produce will love the benefits and your garden will be a more beautiful and productive entity because of it.