Green Gardening

Things to Keep Out of the Compost Pile

There's an almost endless array of materials that are suitable for compost.  In fact, some gardeners become so enthusiastic about composting that they want to toss everything in sight onto that delightfully rotting heap.  However, certain items will cause problems and can even be hazardous to your garden's health.  Here are some commonplace materials that should never go into the compost pile. Diseased plants A working compost pile usually heats up enough to kill weed seeds, but disease organisms are another matter entirely.  The bacteria or fungi from diseased plants can easily survive the composting process.  If you then spread the compost on your garden, you will be spreading disease at the same time.  That would spell disaster. Any plants stricken by mildew, bacterial leaf spot, blight, dry rot, or other diseases should be disposed of in the garbage.  You may also burn the material if you have a way to do so.  The remaining ashes will be safe and can be added to the compost pile. Nonbiodegradable items The compost bin is not a garbage can!  Don't let anyone put plastic, glass, aluminum, synthetic or other nonbiodegradable items into the compost.  Although these items may not do any particular harm, they won't decompose with ...

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The Three-Bin Method of Composting

Composting is the process whereby organic matter is broken down by microorganisms into a nutrient-rich humus.  This material is prized by gardeners for its value as a soil amendment and a fertilizer.  If you do a little reading you'll uncover a wide variety of methods and recipes, any one of which can work for you.  Some people just pile the stuff up in a corner of the yard, while others prefer to make compost in a tidy wooden box or a cage built from chicken wire and posts.  The popular three-bin method of making compost is an option you may want to consider.  Let's take a quick look at this composting technique. Here's how it works.  Build three bins side by side.  Each container should be able to hold at least one cubic yard of plant debris.  Fill up the first bin with layers of brown materials and green materials.  Include some manure or good soil to jumpstart the bacterial activity.  When the volume of the compost reduces by half, move it into the second bin.  Refill the first bin with fresh organic materials.  When the compost in the second bin reduces by half, shovel it into the third bin.  Shortly ...

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Troubleshooting Your Compost Pile

Composting is a pretty simple and straightforward activity.  Even complete novices can make decent compost, once they understand the basics.  But there are a few problems that can arise during the process, and it's useful to know what went wrong and how you can fix the situation.  Here are some tips for troubleshooting your compost pile. Problem: It smells bad A working compost pile doesn't have an unpleasant odor.  If it does, that's a sign that it needs more oxygen.  This can happen when there is too much moisture or an excess of nitrogen-rich materials.  You should turn and mix the materials every day until the smell disappears.  You may also want to add more carbon-rich material such as dry, shredded leaves. Problem: It attracts flies This situation could be caused by a bad-smelling compost heap.  In that case you must turn the materials more often to aerate the pile.  You can also try covering the compost bin with something that keeps flies from laying eggs in the organic matter.  Depending on how the bin was constructed, you might use a tarp, window screening, or pieces of sod laid grass side down to thwart the pests.  Finally, you can trap and kill adult flies ...

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What Goes Into Compost?

If you're new to composting, you may not understand just how many things can go into a good compost pile.  You can probably think of leaves and grass clippings, and oh, yes, there’s a vegetable trimming from the kitchen.  But there are many more raw materials that can be turned into compost.  Here is a quick overview of some common items that can be composted successfully. Ashes - Wood ashes from the fireplace or stove are a good source of potassium carbonate.  Make sure they are wood ashes, not coal ashes which can be toxic to plant life. Garbage - Most organic kitchen waste can be diverted from the garbage to the compost pile.  However, you should not put oil, fats, or greasy dishwater into the pile.  Also avoid meat scraps, bones, and dairy products because they attract animals and flies. Grass clippings - Some homeowners leave clippings on the lawn for fertilizer.  If you'd rather not do that, you can compost the clippings.  To avoid a soggy mess, let grass dry out or mix it up with dry, absorbent material before adding it to the pile.  Don't use grass that has been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides because a chemical residue can ...

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When is Compost Ready to Use?

Composting is an environmentally friendly way of turning yard waste and plant debris into a valuable garden asset.  When dug into garden beds or spread on top of the growing area, compost improves the quality of the soil and promotes healthy plant development.  New gardeners who are just learning about the wonders of compost usually want to know two things.  How long does it take?  And how do you know when it's finished?  Let's try to answer these two vital questions. The first question, how long does it take to make compost, can be answered in two words - it depends.  Some methods of composting are faster than others.  If you have the right combination of raw materials, the right composting setup, and the right climate, and you're willing to put a lot of time into moistening and turning the pile every three days, you could have decent compost in a couple of weeks.  But for most gardeners, that's not exactly realistic. The typical compost pile takes anywhere from three to six months to produce a finished product.  The local climate and the amount of work you put in will affect the speed of decomposition.  A compost pile started late in the ...

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