A Guide to Winter Composting

Organic gardeners know that the end of summer does not mean an end to composting. Although it may be at a slower rate, with a little help the debris in compost piles will continue to decompose during the cold winter months. The outside of the compost pile may be dormant, but the inside or core of the pile is alive with bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi breaking down all kinds of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. The inside will also be hot. The heat is a result of the chemical processing taking place from the breakdown of the materials such as leaves and twigs.

Kitchen scraps and other materials added to the compost pile

Adding dead leaves, straw, shredded newspapers, or a favorite of mine, sawdust to your compost pile will help build up the carbon. Ashes from your fire pit or fireplace will provide calcium, potassium and phosphorus to your pile. Eggshells will add calcium to the mixture. You may not have grass clippings to put in your compost pile when summer ends, but you will have a cornucopia of foodstuff from your kitchen. Nitrogen-rich scraps such as coffee and tea grounds, vegetable and fruit peelings, and leaves from houseplants can feed your compost pile all winter long. Winter is also a great time to add nitrogen-rich manure produced by chickens or rabbits. If you do not have chickens or rabbits, and cannot get your hands on any of their poo, try blood meal or alfalfa pellets, both of which can increase nitrogen. Remember, the small the pieces, the faster the breakdown will occur.

Maintaining the compost pile in the winter

Winter composting requires a little more work than just throwing grass clippings and twigs on top the pile. In the winter months, materials should be layered on the compost pile to help trap heat and insulate it from the cold. Alternate brown and green layers such as dead leaves, then a layer of kitchen scraps, and then repeat.

Everyone knows winter months with its cold winds can produce a dry atmosphere. When there is little, rain or snow, be sure to keep the compost pile damp. If your pile becomes snow-covered, do not remove it, as the snow will act as insulation and help keep the cold from the warm center. The only time you should remove the snow is when you need to add another layer. If you do not get that much snowfall, but do get the cold weather, and want to cover your pile, try using a tarp. To maintain the warmth of the pile and keep the breakdown process going, do not turn or mix the layers.

More articles from this contributor:

Use a Garbage Bag for a Compost Bin

Newspaper in the Old-Fashioned Garden

What do you Really Know About Earthworms and Your Garden Soil?

Source: Master Gardner Classes