Composting

Composting Tips

For the Active Composter

• First, seek out a level, well-drained area. In wet and cooler regions, you will want to store your compost pile in a sunny spot. This will allow you to trap in solar heat (for during the colder months of the year). In warmer, drier areas, store your compost pile in a shaded spot so the pile does not dry out too quickly.
• Build your pile over soil or lawn to take advantage of the earthworms, beneficial microbes, and other decomposing organisms.
• The key to good compost is moisture. Placing your compost pile on uncovered soil makes for better drainage, leaving moisture behind. A good rule of thumb is to leave your compost as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
• A turning or tumbling unit is typically used for active composters and consists of a series of bins used for building and turning active compost piles. A turning unit allows wastes to be conveniently mixed for aeration on a regular basis, speeding up the overall decomposition process.
• You will want to keep your compost pile properly aerated as the organisms that will assist in the decomposition process need air to breathe in order to survive. Using a product such as Ringer® Compost Plus Organic Compost Starter will provide you with the proper microorganisms necessary to break down organic matter into nutrient rich compost for your plants.
• Decomposition occurs most rapidly between 104-131 degrees Fahrenheit. Conventional thinking is that one should leave the pile alone when in this temperature range. Aerating and turning should only occur when the temperature slips below 104 degrees. Should you choose to go the active composting route, you can purchase a compost thermometer that will help you gauge the ‘peak’ times of your pile.

Using a compost starter is essential to the overall health of your compost pile and will allow you to maximize the amount of organic humus in your soil.

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For the Passive Composter

• Wastes can be held in simple holding units, where it will sit for slow decomposition. These are simple units that contain the waste until the end of the decomposition process. This is the easiest way to compost and requires minimal involvement. Easing the process also involves using a product such as Ringer® Compost Plus Organic Compost Starter which provides you with essential microorganisms which break down organic matter to feed your plants essential nutrients.
• Yard wastes can be composted either in simple holding units, where they will sit undisturbed for slow decomposition, or in tumbling compost bins, which produce finished compost as quickly as just a few weeks with a good mix of materials. Non-wood materials such as grass clippings, crop wastes, garden weeds and leaves work best in a simple holding unit.
• The finished compost is dark brown, crumbly and earthy-smelling. Be sure that your finished product is completely decomposed and thus, is ready for use. If you notice small pieces or leaves in the pile, these are partially decomposed remnants and should be used as a mulch. Do not use them as fertilizer as it will deprive your plants of nitrogen. Nitrogen is essential to the growth of plants nearby. A smart move would be to sort out those items not yet decomposed and leave them for the next batch of compost.
• Finished compost may be spread on the soil or dug in. The compost will help your garden soil hold air and water, drain more efficiently, contain a nutrient reserve, encourage a larger population of beneficial soil microorganisms and bring about healthy plant growth.

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Images courtesy of Oklahoma State University and Forestry Images.
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