Compost Piles: What You Need To Know
Last updated: May 25, 2021
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.
- A several inch layer of brown materials.
- A several inch layer of green materials.
- A thin layer of soil.
- A layer of brown materials.
- Add water to the pile allowing all three layers to become damp.
- 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?