Common Compost Myths

Many novice gardeners are terrified at attempting to make their own compost because of all the tips people fill their heads with. Fear not however, many of these compost tips are actually false, and compost is quite easy to make.

Any gardener knows that everyone seems to have their own ideas on how to achieve the perfect compost. For new gardeners however, home made compost seems like something beyond their reach, do to the "complexities" entailed in making it. Much of the advice and instruction you may receive on compost making however, is not entirely true, and makes composting seem much more complicated than it actually is.

You Must Have a Perfect Balance of Ingredients to Make Compost

This is actually a myth. You need not have the "perfect" balance of ingredients to be successful at making compost. Many seasoned gardeners will tell you that you must have a perfect ratio of "one part green material to two parts brown material," or something along those lines in order to achieve the perfect compost. The fact of the matter is, you can pile any amount of your greens and browns together and it will still mature into rich, usable compost.

Compost Must be Hot

This is yet another compost myth. Compost will become compost whether it is hot or cold. While it is true that compost will decompose faster if kept at higher temperatures, compost that is kept hot will not be any better than compost that is cold. In actuality, there is a high price paid by keeping your compost hot to make it "cook" faster. Hot compost that is intensively worked and produced quickly has an extremely low lever of microbial organisms, which are necessary for rich, quality compost. By allowing your compost to "cure" you maintain a higher level of bacteria that is beneficial to your plants.

Compost Piles Must be Large

A compost pile can be any size that you want it to be. The only factor that comes into play with the size of your compost pile is how quickly it will cook. A large compost pile will most often cook extremely faster than a smaller pile. Since we now know that faster composting doesn't mean better composting, there is simply no need for that jumbo compost pile that can be a little harder to work. Whatever size pile, or piles, you choose to have, you can rest assured that you compost will decompose and provide you with serviceable compost.

You Must Turn Your Compost Regularly

Many die-hard gardeners will tell you that you must turn your compost often, or else it may not get enough oxygen. The only time this applies, is if your compost pile is too wet. Otherwise, your compost pile will aerate itself as materials break down. That is not to say of course, that turning your compost is a bad thing, or that you should never do it. Turning your compost is a great way to help mix materials and ensure that all the material is getting the amount of moisture that it needs. Turning your compost will also help to break material up into smaller pieces as it breaks down. You need not however, turn your compost regularly, and if you do not turn it at all it will still decompose, it may just take a little longer.

You Cannot Compost Diseased or Weedy Plants

This is one of the most well known myths in gardening. And it is definitely a myth. Diseased and weedy plants can be composted, however they do require a little work first. Diseased and weedy plants should never be added directly to your compost pile, this much is true. But there is no reason for them to go to waste. Diseased and weedy plants should be placed separately into their own pile, and allowed to start the process of breaking down and shrinking. Once you have a decent amount of material, you can then cook your pile in a solar cooker.

Solar cookers are inexpensive and easy to make right at home from a cardboard box and aluminum foil. Plans for solar cookers can easily be found online, or in some gardening books. By cooking your diseased and weedy plants in a solar cooker for about two hours, you will kill the soilborne pathogens in your diseased plants, as well as the weed seeds. This can now be added to your main compost pile, for more composting material.

Making great compost at home is not as difficult as many gardeners make it seem. While what they do might work well for them, it may not sound great to you. Composting is easy and actually quite fun to do, and it's a great way to save money and help the environment. So don't worry about perfect mixes and exact formulas and start composting!