Composting is
nature's way of recycling organic material like leaves, grass clippings
and kitchen scraps. Bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as
a wide variety of insects, consume this material producing an earthy
smelling, nutrient-rich compost that can be used around your yard
and garden as a soil amendment, mulch, or as part of a homemade potting
soil mix for houseplants.
"Hot" Composting produces
compost in as little as four weeks although it usually takes a little
longer; kills weed seeds, insect eggs and pathogens; and is relatively
odorless.
"Slow" Composting is
a low maintenance technique that requires less attention to the details
of materials used. Materials are generally slower to decompose, taking
from six months to a year.
"Closed-Air" Composting is
a type of low-maintenance technique especially good for composting
food scraps, as well as yard clippings.
Making compost is very simple and can be done using a simple pile
or a composting bin.
Just follow these easy steps:
Set aside
a small area in the shade and loosen the soil under the pile or bin
to provide better drainage.
Place
about an equal amount of green and brown materials into the compost
bin or pile. Be sure to shred or chop the compost materials into small
pieces about 1 inch across.
Thoroughly
mix and water the compost materials (it should feel like a damp sponge,
moist but not soggy).
Build
your compost pile until it is about 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. high. Tops
of the pile with finished compost, soil, or straw and cover it with
a tarp to help retain moisture. If you are using a compost bin, be
sure to follow the manufacturer's directions.
The pile
or bin will begin to heat up within a few days to about 140 degrees,
so be careful not to stick your hands in without wearing gloves. Mix
the compost pile every 7 to 10 days, and add water as necessary.
The compost
is ready when it appears dark, crumbles easily and you cannot recognize
any of the materials you started with.
Materials to avoid:
- Large branches or logs
- Plastics or synthetic fibers
- Manure from meat eating animals
- Meats, fatty/oily foods
- Plants that have been treated with herbicides/pesticides
- Charcoal ashes
Materials to add with caution:
- Diseased plants or plants suffering from severe insect attack
- Weeds and seeds (ivy, succulents, Bermuda grass, morning glory, mallow)
Why should I compost? Why shouldn't organic wastes go to the landfill?
Organic
materials are a valuable resource when composted or used as mulches
in the yard. Organic materials improve soil and plant health, prevent
erosion, and hold moisture and nutrients in the soil. In a landfill,
decaying organic materials create methane gas that pollutes the air
and poses an explosive danger. Yard wastes in landfills also combine
with other materials and create toxic leachate that may contaminate
groundwater. Backyard composting is also much less expensive than
sending wastes to the landfill or centralized composting facilities.
What is the easiest way to compost?
Slow composting is the easiest way to compost yard wastes.
What is the difference between compost and yard wastes?
Compost is decomposed organic material that can be mixed with oil
to improve it. Mulches are materials used on top of the soil to suppress
weeds, hold moisture, prevent erosion and as an attractive groundcover.
Compost and shredded yard waste make excellent organic mulches.
What happens to the green waste that is collected from our homes?
Waste Management takes residential green waste to a compost facility in
Irvine where it is placed in heaped rows called windrows to cure for 120 days.
The result is organic compost that is sold to private companies and the public.
Tierra Verde returns 50 yards of compost to the community every other year.
Residents can take compost home in their own containers in the spring of even
numbered years. To contact Tierra Verde, call (949) 551-0363.
If you compost weeds with seeds, will they survive and re-sprout?
It is best to compost weeds before they go to seed. Some seeds can survive
temperatures up to 140º F, and even a well made hot compost pile may
not reach these temperatures uniformly throughout the pile.
How are weeds such as morning glory, crab grass, buttercup, ivy roots,
and blackberries composted?
Plants that propagate vegetatively should be very thoroughly dried in the
sun and then used as a compost ingredient. Or they should be composted
alone and covered with black plastic to sit for as much as two years.
Can vacuum dust be composted?
Yes. However, fibers from synthetic carpeting will not decompose (but
they will probably not be noticeable in the finished compost).
Should diseased materials be used to make compost?
As a general rule, it is best to not compost diseased plant materials
because of the chance of re-infecting your garden.
Is it good practice to add wood ashes while making a compost pile?
Most soils in California have a basic PH and since wood ashes are
basic, they probably should not be added to the compost pile. However,
if mostly high nitrogen material is used especially in a closed-bin
system, the composting mass is likely to become acidic, and wood ashes
can be added to help neutralize the compost.
Can pet wastes be composted?
We recommend against composting pet wastes because of potential disease
and parasite transmission.
Can bones and meat scraps be composted? Can fish bones be buried?
There is too much potential for pest problems, so we do not recommend composting
or burying these materials.
Can fleece be composted?
Natural fibers including fleece, cotton, hemp and burlap be all composted.
Can yard wastes of unknown origin be safely composted without concern over potential herbicides?
No. Lawn clippings with herbicides on them may kill garden plants if used
as a mulch or "young" compost. If herbicide use is suspected, materials
should be thoroughly composted in hot piles and allowed to cure for
several months before using in the garden.
What kind of wood chips/sawdust is best for composting?
The chips or dust of deciduous, hardwood trees are best for making compost.
Cedar can have inhibitory substances and the sawdust from pressure-treated,
pressed wood or plywood contains various toxic materials. We do not
recommend their use in compost.
Can coffee filters and teabags be composted?
Yes. Any untreated paper product may be composted. Worms love coffee grounds
and filters, as well as teabags. Don't try to compost treated papers
such as glossy magazines or photographs, waxed paper, and certain
copy papers.
Can you compost if you just have kitchen wastes, no yard wastes?
Yes, if shredded and mixed well with other materials. Shredded newspaper
can also be used as a bedding for redworms.
Should pine needles be composted separately?
No. Pine needles break down slower than many other wastes, but they
do not pose any problems in the compost or garden.
What tools can be used to chip woody wastes? How do you know what size to use?
- Machete: Green or woody vegetable stalks.
- Lawn Mower: Leaves and twigs up to 1/8" diameter.
- 5 H.P. Gas Shredder: twigs and branches up to 2" diameter
- Commercial Shredder (8+ H.P.): branches over 2" diameter
How do you use a rotary mower to shred materials?
Rotary mowers work best on dry materials that are not too woody. It is best
to use it on a hard, level surface and blowing the materials against
a wall works well.
Do I need to add fertilizer to my garden if I use compost?
Compost is classified as a soil conditioner rather than a fertilizer,
but it can contain a good range of major and minor plant nutrients
plus trace elements essential for healthy plant growth. Some methods
of composting produce a more nutrient rich material than others.
Should I wear gloves when handling compost?
As long as pet wastes are excluded, gloves are not necessary for handling
composted yard or kitchen wastes.
Do I need a bin to make compost?
No. Yard waste compost can be made in open piles. However, bins help
keep piles neat, retain heat better and are appropriate for many urban
situations.
What do you do about a neighbor who complains about composting even though
it doesn't smell?
Set a good example by keeping your compost system as neat as possible.
Explain the benefits of composting every chance you get. Tell them
why you do it and how it works for you - the will catch on eventually.
How do you know when the compost is finished?
When it has become dark, loose, and crumbly; and if in a hot pile, when
it does not reheat upon turning. Sift out unfinished material if aesthetics
are important.
What should I do if my compost smells like ammonia?
An ammonia smell can be caused by several factors, including too much
nitrogen, too much alkalinity, and too much moisture. Turn the pile
and add absorbent, high carbon material ("browns"), especially acidic
materials such as sawdust or dry oak leaves.
