How to Make Great Compost

Making compost is easy because most of the ingredients you need are right at your fingertips. Items that are compostable include fallen leaves from trees, fruit and vegetable scraps (except for citrus fruit), wood chippings, dead perennial and annual plants and flowers, wood ashes (not coal or charcoal), coffee grinds, grass clippings from your mowed lawn, and manure from rabbits, chickens, and rabbits. Any fruits and vegetables that have been cooked should not be added to your compost, or should any plant matter that has been treated with insecticide. Diseased plants should also not be included or plants that have already gone to seed.

The key to great compost is heat. The temperature of your compost plays a large factor of how fast your organic matter will break down. You can buy compost bins at almost any garden supply store, or make one of your own by using inexpensive materials like chicken wire and two by fours or wooden pallets. Compost bins are better than regular piles because they not only can help speed up the composting process, but are also a little more appealing to have in your yard that what looks like a large pile of trash. To build your compost pile, alternate layers of high-carbon and high-nitrogen materials. High carbon materials are dry and brown like leaves or straw. High-nitrogen materials are usually green and moist. These would include items such as weeds, fruit and vegetable scraps, animal manures, etc. If you want to speed up the composting process you can add some garden soil, manure or already finished compost. These items are rich in microorganisms which will help speed up decomposition.

The correct amount of moisture is also important when composting. Compost should be kept moist at all times but should never be saturated. Once your compost starts breaking down it is quite easy to check the moisture level. Simply grab a handful of compost in your hand and squeeze. If your compost is too dry, it will crumble and fall apart in your hand. If it is too wet, it will be squishy like mud and water may squeeze out of it. The ideal compost should form a firm ball in your hand about the consistency of clay. If your compost pile dries out it will slow down the composition process. If you are expecting rain or snow, you should cover your pile with a plastic tarp to prevent it from becoming too wet. It is also beneficial to cover your pile in the winter time to help preserve heat. Covering your pile will also help to maintain moisture during hot, dry spells. You should turn your pile on a regular basis, at least once a week. A very easy way to do this would be to build a two bin composter. Then you simply shovel your compost from one side to the other, alternating between the two bins each time you turn your pile. By doing all of the above you should be able to have usable compost within 6-12 months. You will know your compost is ready when it has broken down into small crumbly pieces that are a dark brownish or black color.

Making compost is easy, inexpensive and can actually become quite addictive for the die hard gardener. You will become so proud of your great compost that you'll be showing it to other gardeners just as you would any of your plants. And with all of the money you'll be saving, you'll be able to buy more plants to grow with your rich, nutritious compost.