Now that summer has arrived many of us are tending to the vegetable and flower gardens and using compost as a way to enhance the nutrient content of the soil. The basics of composting are quite simple, and adhering to them will result in a successful outcome. Sometimes you may run into unexpected challenges with your compost pile and these are just a few tips to help you make the most of your back yard composting.
1. Turn the Compost More Frequently
It is recommended to turn the compost pile approximately every 2 weeks or when you see the temperature drop from the next peak of about 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The bacteria that break down the compost need air to survive and aerating the pile helps them stay alive and do their jobs more efficiently.
2. Shred Some of the Ingredients
Brown or carbon rich materials take longer to decompose than the green materials. Shredding (hay, straw, leaves, paper, dried grass and cardboard) increases the surface area, more evenly distributes the air and moisture content and makes them decompose faster. If you don’t have a chipper or shredder you can always cut your materials into small pieces with shears.
3. Add an Activator
Activators are both a source of nitrogen and protein. They assist the living organisms in your compost pile to break down the organic materials. There are many activators available however the best one I’ve found is Alfalfa meal. You can buy it in most garden centers or online. The results are amazing!
4. Try Vermiculture
Worm composting can be done indoors or out and is great way to compost year round. Fill a container with moistened shredded newspaper, leaves and a handful of soil. Next you add red worms also known as branding or manure worms. As you add your food waste the worms will convert it into rich compost.
5. Make Comfrey Fertilizer
Comfrey leaves have high levels of nitrogen in the leaves. Grow a patch of comfrey in an area that gets medium sun and lots of moisture. One the leaves are full cut enough to fill a 5 gallon bucket ¼ of the way full. Add a rock to weigh them down and fill with water. Put a lid on the container and wait 6 weeks. The mixture is ready when the leaves are no longer visible. Adding this to your compost pile will help activate the decomposition process.
6. Balance the Compost Materials
In order for your pile to break down effectively you must balance the carbon (brown) materials with the nitrogen (green) materials. Too much green and it will get smelly and too much brown and it won’t break down quickly enough. Bacteria need carbon for energy and nitrogen for protein synthesis at a ratio of 30 carbon to 1 nitrogen.
7. Get the Correct Moisture Level
You typically want your compost pile to have a moisture content of 55%, basically being wet without being soggy. It should not be moist enough to squeeze water out of. If you live in a dry climate you could make an indentation for water to collect in the pile. If you are in a wet climate it would be recommended to put a tarp or covering over the pile to protect it from excess rain water.
8. Use the Berkley Method
This method is known to produce compost in as little as 14-21 days. This type of compost has higher nutrient values because it happens so quickly nutrients aren’t lost to rainfall and exposure to the elements. Shred and mix materials, add a bit of water if it feels dry. Make your pile 4ft by 5ft and put a piece of plastic over top to trap in heat. The temperature will rise within 24 hours. At day 2 turn the pile and do this ever 2 days until you reach the 2 week mark. Once the temp drops below 100 degrees the compost is ready for use.
9. Use a Compost Tumbler
Using a tumbler will produce results in a short amount of time with little effort. The tumbler makes aeration easy and convenient. Purchasing a tumbler may be more expensive than other methods and it may also be limiting in the amount of organic material it can hold but for most people it works just fine. There are many tumbler options online for purchase.
10. Have Multiple Compost Piles
Rather than make your existing pile too large you may want to consider starting a new pile. Once the decomposition starts it’s a good idea to avoid adding new material unless you are correcting an imbalance. If you add new material it will prolong how long it takes to get your finished compost and nutrients will be lost to leaching. Starting a new pile will ensure that breakdown will happen more efficiently and you will get better compost.
I had no idea that compose piles needed to be tended too. I am going to email this article to my sister. She and her husband have a compost pile in their yard, and I bet this will give her new ideas!