Enriching the soil with compost is perhaps the single most important action you can take to improve the health and productivity of your garden.  Recycling plant debris and kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost is also a smart way to do something good for the environment.  With all the positive things you’ve heard, you can’t wait to build your own compost heap.  Here are some tips for getting started with composting.

First of all, decide on a spot for your compost pile.  The spot should be somewhere that gets sun for much of the day.  It’s often convenient to put the compost pile near the garden area and near a source of water.  Buy a compost bin or make one yourself by hammering cedar posts into the ground and wrapping wire mesh around them.  Throw a few handfuls of sticks or twigs on the bottom to elevate the pile and allow air to circulate.

Now, you can begin to add the ingredients.  Put in a thick layer of dried leaves, shredded paper, or straw.  These are carbon-rich materials known as “browns.”  Follow this with a layer of fresh grass clippings, garden trimmings, or kitchen scraps (no animal products or oils).  These are nitrogen-rich materials known as “greens.”

Then add a layer of well-rotted manure, good soil, or bagged compost.  These items provide an additional supply of microorganisms to assist in decomposition.

Continue building layers until you run out of raw material or the bin is full.  You should cut up or shred larger items before they go into the pile so they decompose more quickly.  For best results, you will need to include more browns than greens.  After all the materials are in the pile, mix everything up with a fork and let the microbial life get to work breaking down the plant matter.

The pile must stay moist to help stimulate bacterial growth.  It should feel damp but not wet, rather like a wrung-out sponge.  You may need to add water occasionally in dry weather.  Add more brown materials if the pile is too wet.

Mix or turn the decomposing matter every week or so to let air circulate throughout the pile.  Soon beneficial worms and insects will arrive and take up residence, speeding up the decomposition process.  The pile will begin to heat up as bacterial activity increases.

Keep the top of the heap covered with a piece of plastic, old carpet, or overturned sod to retain moisture, reduce heat loss, and discourage flies and animals.

A working compost pile does not smell bad.  If your compost smells unpleasant, it needs better air circulation or contains too much green material.  Try turning it more frequently or add more brown material to balance things out.

In a few months, your compost will be well-decomposed and ready to put in the garden.  Compost may be used as a soil amendment, as a fertilizer boost for new plantings, as a mulch around plants and trees, and for many other purposes.

Composting is an easy-to-learn skill that every home gardener should have.  It’s a great way to turn waste materials like weeds, dead grass, and garbage into a valuable product.  You will find that everyone has a preferred method for making compost, but the basics remain the same.  No matter how you go about it, your compost will probably turn out just fine.  So what are you waiting for?