Composting is an eco-friendly way to recycle organic waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. This natural process breaks down kitchen scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials into a valuable resource for plants. In the video above and guide below, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada demonstrates the basics of composting, including the essential ingredients and ratios for success.
Understanding the Composting Process
Composting involves the natural breakdown of organic materials through the action of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, and insects. This process is always occurring throughout nature, but to create nutrient-rich soil for your yard or garden, you’ll need to speed nature up a bit. This requires four key elements:
- Greens (nitrogen-rich materials)
- Browns (carbon-rich materials)
- Air
- Water
When combined in the right proportions, these components create an environment conducive to efficient decomposition, resulting in nutrient-rich compost.
The Role of Greens and Browns
Greens and browns are the main categories of materials used in composting:
- Greens: These nitrogen-rich materials provide sustenance for the microorganisms in the compost pile. Examples include:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Paper tea bags (without staples) and filters
- Nutshells
- Crushed eggshells
- Fresh grass clippings
- Hair and pet fur
- Browns: These carbon-rich materials provide structure and energy for the composting process. Examples include:
- Dry leaves (no pesticide or herbicide)
- Stalks and twigs
- Shredded paper (uncolored, non-glossy) including brown bags
- Shredded cardboard (no wax coating, glue, or tape)
- Untreated wood chips and sawdust
The ideal ratio for composting is 3:1 browns to greens. That’s about 3 inches of brown material for every 1 inch of green material. Achieving this balance ensures that the pile has sufficient carbon for energy and nitrogen for growth while maintaining proper aeration and moisture levels.
The Importance of Air and Water
Air and water are essential for the microorganisms that break down organic matter. Oxygen is necessary for aerobic decomposition, which is faster and produces less odor than anaerobic decomposition. Regularly turning the pile helps incorporate air. Moisture is also essential for microorganisms to thrive. The compost pile should be roughly as moist as a wrung-out sponge—damp but not soaking wet.
Benefits of Composting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends at-home composting to reduce trash, create healthy soil, and combat climate change. Composting offers numerous advantages for both your garden and the environment.
- Soil improvement: Compost enriches soil structure, enhancing its ability to retain water and nutrients.
- Plant health: The nutrients in compost promote strong, disease-resistant plants without the risk of over-fertilizing or nitrogen depletion.
- Waste reduction: Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.
- Cost savings: Homemade compost is a free alternative to store-bought fertilizers and soil amendments.
- Water conservation: Compost-rich soil requires less frequent watering.
Starting Your Compost Pile
Creating a successful compost pile is simple by following these steps:
- Start collecting greens and browns. Store fruit and vegetable scraps in a closed container or your freezer, and set aside an area in your yard for your lawn waste.
- Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin. Avoid setting it up right next to a fence, and ensure there’s good drainage.
- Mulch browns by hand or with a lawnmower, and chop or break up large green items like corn cobs or broccoli stalks.
- Lay the foundation. Start with a 3-inch layer of browns for proper aeration.
- Place a 1-inch layer of greens on top of the browns.
- Mix in a thin layer of garden soil to introduce beneficial microorganisms.
- Continue alternating layers of browns and greens like making a lasagna, maintaining the 3:1 ratio.
- Moisten the pile as you build it, ensuring it’s damp but not waterlogged.
- Cover the pile. Use a tarp or lid to retain moisture and heat.
Maintaining Your Compost Pile
Your job doesn’t stop there. Regular maintenance is key to successful composting.
- Every three to five days, use a pitchfork or shovel to mix the materials, incorporating air and promoting even decomposition.
- Keep the pile as moist as a wrung-out sponge, adding water if necessary.
- Continue adding browns and greens in the proper ratio as you accumulate more organic waste.
- A warm pile indicates active decomposition—temperatures can reach 130–160 degrees Fahrenheit. If the pile doesn’t heat up, turn it and add more greens.
As Nawada notes, the amount of time composting takes varies from pile to pile, but the EPA estimates it takes about three to five months before the compost is ready to use. After it is no longer producing heat when mixed, the pile needs about four weeks to sit and cure, at which point it will shrink to about one-third of its original size.
Using a Compost Bin
While composting can be done in an open pile, using a bin offers several advantages. Bins offer containment, keeping the pile neat and preventing materials from blowing away. They also provide pest control and deter animals from accessing the compost. Bins help maintain the heat necessary for efficient decomposition, and finally, many bins have features like removable sides or bottom doors for easy turning and harvesting.
You can build your own bin or buy a specially-designed one. Nawada showcases a compost bin with a convenient bottom door for accessing finished compost without disturbing the active layers above. Some also offer features like aeration systems and easy-access points for turning.
What Not to Compost at Home
Unfortunately, not all food scraps and other household waste are appropriate for backyard composting. Avoiding these materials helps prevent odors, pests, and potential pathogens in your compost pile.
- Aggressive weeds
- Bones
- Cat litter
- Charcoal ash
- Chemically treated yard trimmings
- “Compostable” bags and dinnerware
- Dairy products
- Diseased plants
- Dryer lint
- Fats, oils, and grease
- Glossy and colored paper
- Large amounts of cooked food (small amounts are fine)
- Inorganic materials (plastic, metal, glass)
- Meat and fish
- Pet waste
- Produce stickers
- Treated or painted wood
Some of these items, including bags and dinnerware marketed as “compostable,” may be accepted for commercial composting, where piles reach much higher temperatures. However, you should keep them out of your pile or bin, since they won’t break down.
Troubleshooting Common Composting Issues
Even seasoned composters may encounter problems. Here are some common issues and their solutions:
- Foul odor: This usually indicates either too much moisture or insufficient air. Turn the pile and add more browns.
- Slow decomposition: The pile may be too dry or lacking in greens. Add water and more nitrogen-rich materials.
- Pests: If animals are attracted to your pile, ensure you’re not composting meat or dairy, and consider using an enclosed bin. Bins shouldn’t have holes or gaps larger than a quarter of an inch.
- Flies: Cover food scraps with browns to deter flies and other insects.
- Weeds in finished compost: Ensure your pile reaches high temperatures to kill weed seeds, or avoid adding seeding weeds to the pile.
When and How To Use Compost
Once your compost is a dark brown color with a crumbly topsoil texture, it’s ready for use. At this point, the compost should smell earthy rather than like rot or ammonia. You may see small bits of eggshell or nutshell, but there should be no other recognizable materials. If you like, you can create a screen out of quarter-inch hardware cloth to sift out items like twigs and fruit pits.
Now that it’s ready, you can use this compost in a number of different ways.
- Fertilizer: Spread compost in vegetable and flower beds, tree beds, window boxes, and container gardens.
- Mulch: Loosen 2–3 inches of soil and top with about 3 inches of compost, leaving room around tree trunks and plant stems.
- Potting mix: Combine no more than 30% compost with 70% potting soil to add nutrients without creating root burn.
- Soil amendment for clay, sandy, or depleted soil: Mix 2–4 inches of compost into the top 6–9 inches of soil.
Our Conclusion
Composting at home is a rewarding way to reduce waste and create valuable soil amendments for your garden. By following the proper ratios of browns to greens, maintaining adequate moisture and aeration, and avoiding problematic materials, you can successfully produce nutrient-rich compost.
