Compost Piles: What You Need To Know

Compost Piles: What You Need To Know

When should you start a compost pile?

What is the ratio for building a compost pile?

Composting is one of those things that you know you should do, but it just does not seem practical. I decided it was time to examine how impractical a compost pile really is. In this article, we discuss how to build them and key tips to what makes a compost pile successful.

Backyard Gardening Basics: What You Need To Know About Compost Piles

How to Build a Compost Pile

I was surprised to find that building a compost pile was not difficult. It can be broken down into four steps. There are some terms you need to know before you can build.

  • Brown Materials: These are the carbon-rich materials like leaves, straw, shredded newspaper and dead flowers from your garden.
  • Green Materials: These are the nitrogen-rich materials like grass clippings, vegetable peelings, fruit rinds, and barnyard animal manure.

According to Organic Gardening, here is the formula for building your compost pile.

  1. A several inch layer of brown materials.
  2. A several inch layer of green materials.
  3. A thin layer of soil.
  4. A layer of brown materials.
  5. Add water to the pile allowing all three layers to become damp.
  6. Continue adding green and brown materials until your pile is 3 feet high.

Tips to Successful Composting

  • Once your compost pile is build, try to add to your pile with 3 parts brown materials to 1 part green material.
  • Use a shovel or gardening fork to turn your pile every few weeks.
  • You can start your compost pile anytime of the year, however, the University of Illinois Extension recommends doing so in the fall. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/building.cfm
  • Your pile should be about 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.
  • While you do not need a compost bin, they can help keep the pile orderly.
  • Keep your pile damp and not wet.
  • You will notice your pile starting to decompose when you see earthworms and the center of the pile starts to turn black – also called “black-gold”.
  • Maria’s Farm County Kitchen writes, not to put anything toxic in the pile. Here are some examples of what you should not put in your compost pile: bones, processes foods, dairy, pet feces, and meat.
  • If you do put meat in your compost pile, it could attract rodents.

Summary

This is all it takes to create and sustain a compost pile. Composting is more practical than most people think.

Do you compost? If so, what is your best advice to someone who is just starting to compost?

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