Whether you are a hobbyist or someone serious about gardening, the ability to make your own compost will be very helpful. This article will assume that you have the basics of composting down and give you a few tips on how to make better compost.
Composting is one of the best ways to recycle food waste and scraps into a soil amendment your plants will thrive on. In fact, most gardeners are always looking for good compost to help their plants flourish. Making your own compost is the most sustainable, self-reliant option, but there are people who make good money selling compost to commercial farms and gardening enthusiasts. Look at these four ways to make better compost…
The Location or Your Compost Bin Matters
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The composting process takes time and one of the major factors that decides if your compost will turn out well is the location the compost bin is in. Ideally, your bin should have good drainage and must be on level ground. Avoid placing the compost heap in places where it is exposed to full sun to keep it from staying dry. While we are talking about location, be sure to keep it within reach of a water hose. If you decide you will be turning your compost regularly, you will be adding water to keep it moist. You don’t want to have to haul water for this bit!
*Note: Unless you garden in cooler latitudes, then you want to keep it in a sunny spot to trap solar heat.
It makes sense to keep your compost bin close to the garden. Finished compost is heavy. Compost directly on the ground to promote good contact with earthworms, soil microorganisms, aeration, and drainage.
Oxygenate Your Compost
For the compost to break down well, the bacteria and organisms that are involved in the process need oxygen to survive. So, it’s ideal that you turn the compost pile to get air into it so that the microorganisms can survive and thrive. Too much moisture in your compost pile can turn the compost anaerobic, which produces a foul odor and results in compost of poor quality. Ensure good drainage. If a well-drained area is not available, dig a trench across the proposed location of the compost pile. Cover the trench with woven wire. Place a 2- to 3-inch layer of coarse organic matter on the pile first.
You should be able to see that the material on the edges of the heap are dry while the center is relatively damp. Move the edges to the center and mix them up a little. Try and get air into the compost heap by preventing tight clumps from forming.
The more you rake and aerate your compost heap, the faster the pile will turn into rich, beneficial fertilizer.
GIGO – Garbage In, Garbage Out
Not all food scraps and leftovers should be composted. Many people get this wrong and expect that since most foods are biodegradable, they’re suitable for composting. This is a common misconception.
You need to use the right waste. Dairy and meat products are a no-no. Weeds, waste from pets and oily food leftovers should not be used either. All these will create foul smells and attract pests. There should be mostly plant waste and even with the plant waste, there should be a mix of greens and browns. You may wish to add rolled up cardboard balls into the mix to create air pockets. The cardboard is a good type of brown waste.
If your compost heap is too wet, add more brown waste like dried leaves, twigs, etc. If it is too dry, add more green waste like grass cutting, vegetable scraps, etc.
Monitor the pH Levels
The composting bacteria work best when the pH level of the compost is between 5.5 and 8. If you’re using worms in your compost, they survive well in this range too. So, you may wish to get a soil test kit to monitor the pH level of the compost. Do note that the readings will vary when you test different portions of the compost. Test about 5 bunches of compost and calculate an average.
Keep an eye on these 4 factors when composting and you will have much better compost. There are also many other tips such as using worms, shredding the brown waste, checking the moisture level of the compost and much more. You will do well to research more on this topic so that you know how to get the best out of your composting efforts. You only need to learn it once and after you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll easily be able to turn your spoil into soil and make your plants very happy!
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Thank you…what a great and informative blog post. As this is my first year trying my hand at composting…this helps so much.
Awww, yea! When I was twelve my mother gave me part of our backyard to start my first vegetable garden… and taught me the basics of composting. (take the kitchen scraps out and throw them in the pile, LOL) I’ve learned a lot since then and it is my biggest thrill to help people get their compost on! I mean, you really can’t “mess it up” right? 🙂 You GROW girl!
You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.