Backyard composting

Today we conclude Mona’s column about composting.

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. Plastics, Styrofoam and synthetic fibers will not break down.

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. Compost 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.

This ends the Weed Board and Master Gardener contribution to the Bits & Pieces column for this year. Thanks to all who provided the valuable information for readers to digest.