Backyard composting

Composting is nature’s way of recycling your trash to treasure. Much of what we throw away from our kitchens and yards can be composted into rich, healthy soil instead of piled into a landfill. 

Composting is the natural decomposition of organic materials such as leaves, straw and food scraps. Materials are typically heaped on a pile, which allows microorganisms to break them down over time. 

The benefits of composting are three-fold:

1. Composting reduces the volume we send to the county landfill.

2. Compost can improve soil quality by improving aeration, increasing drainage, suppressing weeds and controlling soil erosion.

3. Compost that is applied in gardens, flower beds and lawns can supply valuable soil nutrients and result in less synthetic fertilizer use. 

First, a suitable location for the compost process must be found. Ideally, this will be conveniently accessible but in a somewhat hidden part of the yard. Locations that are shaded and out of the wind are preferred over locations with full sun. 

Next, before getting started with composting there is the decision on the type of composting method that has to be made. Several types of compost piles can be successful, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Decide on the type of compost pile that works best for you. That might be the simple heap, closed bin, open bin, or the turning drum bin. 

The simple heap is the least expensive, but can quickly attract animals and become messy. The closed bin is low cost, but is difficult to access and difficult to provide aeration. The open bin is often constructed of cement blocks or wooden boards. It is easy to access and provide aeration. However, it is a little more expensive. Another method of composting is the turning drum bin. It is the most expensive and may be too small for some uses. The turning drum bin makes compost very quickly. 

Begin your composting by layering several inches of twigs and other chopped brush on top of the soil surface. The compost pile will be built on top of this base, which allows air circulation around the heap. 

As the rest of the pile is built, using ingredients listed below, alternating layers of green and brown materials should be formed. A small layer of soil should also be added to the compost pile periodically to help inoculate the heap with useful microorganisms. 

A wide variety of materials can be composted. Materials are classified as either high nitrogen (green) or high carbon (brown) materials. It is suggested that about 75 percent (by volume) of the materials added to a compost pile are brown, and 25 percent are green. If large pieces of material are to be added to the compost pile, chopping them into smaller pieces can aid in the breakdown of these materials. 

High Nitrogen (Green): green leaves and grass, vegetable and fruit scraps, livestock manure (poultry, rabbit, hog, cattle), egg shells, and coffee grounds. 

High Carbon (Brown): paper products, wood chips, dry leaves and straw, dryer lint, and sawdust.

Do Not Add: manure from household pets (dogs, cats), meat, fish, or dairy products, cooking oils or fats, plywood or treated lumber, plastics, Styrofoam, or synthetic fibers. These items will attract animals and insects, generate odors, and contaminate the pile. 

Compost also requires water and oxygen. While some materials, such as food scraps and fresh grass clippings, contain water, additional water is sometimes needed during hot summer months. The ideal moisture content of a compost pile should be similar to a wrung-out sponge. Oxygen is provided to a compost pile by turning or aerating the pile. This should be done at least once a month to ensure proper functioning of the pile. 

The larger the compost pile, the hotter it will get, which will produce compost in a shorter amount of time. 

Finished compost is a crumbly, dark brown material with a sweet or musty smell. The original contents of the pile, such as food and vegetable scraps, should no longer be recognizable. The time required to complete the compost process can vary from three weeks to one year, depending on methods used, ingredients added and size of the pile. 

How can I use my compost?

Compost can be used in many ways in the yard and garden. The most common use of compost is to add several inches to vegetable gardens and work into the soil as a soil amendment. It can also be used around growing plants much like mulch to help control weeds and provide nutrients. Compost can also be top-dressed or spread in a thin layer over a lawn to provide organic material and nutrients. 

For answers to gardening questions, contact the Master Gardeners at the WSU Grant-Adams Extension office at 754-2011, Ext. 4313 or email your gardening questions to ga.mgvolunteers@wsu.edu. Visit our web page at http://grant-adams.wsu.edu.