Composting at home provides gardeners with a free source of nutrient-rich soil amendment. Knowing what is in your compost is a great way to ensure
you are not introducing problems into the garden. Here are a few quick tips for success if you’re new to composting.
• Turn the pile at least once a month to rotate
materials from the center and promote decomposition. The pile will heat up as it decomposes and cool as
decomposition slows.
• Create a depression in the top of the pile to allow water to collect and slowly
seep through the layers of the mound.
• When deciding where to establish a compost pile, look for a water source. Water
is essential for efficient decomposition and close proximity to supplemental water
will allow you to keep the pile moist even during periods of drought.
• Smaller materials decompose faster. When possible, shred materials before
adding them to the heap especially “browns” such as dry leaves and twigs.
• Fats and meats should not be added to the compost heap. They will attract
wildlife.
• Grass clippings from a lawn treated with crabgrass killer should not be
composted. If crabgrass preventer or dandelion killer has been used on the lawn,
the clippings can be composted after the third mowing.
• Only add fresh plant material that is disease-free.
