If you are an avid gardener you probably want to do some composting so you can give lots of nutrients to your garden. Knowing how to make a compost heap or how to use a compost bin is important. For anyone who just wants to improve their current compost heap or for someone who wants to start a compost heap here is a list of what you need to do to prepare your compost.
First of all, you will want to make sure you get a decent compost bin. They are easy to use and much easier to manage than a heap of material in your yard.
Table of Contents
Lots of Different Garden Composters Available
There are plenty of different kinds on the market and you will find many reviewed here on Best Garden Composters. One of our favorite compost bins is the EJWOX Composting Tumbler. It is very popular and doesn’t cost too much. In fact, it has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon.
After deciding that you want to start composting, you will need to pick the perfect area in your yard to start a compost heap or add a compost bin.
You will need a level, well-drained area that will make sure any excess water drains away from the site.
A lot of people make the decision to let the worms do all the hard work and get a worm composting bin.
Worms love a moist environment and will eat whatever waste material they add to the compost heap or bin.
The material they eat is converted into liquid feed and compost.
We recommend the Worm Factory 360 Worm Composting Bin for getting the job done by using all your recycled kitchen scraps, paper waste, and cardboard.
It is considered a more efficient way to compost than a traditional compost heap.
Evidently, worm compost makes ten times the nutrients of other types of composters.
What to Use in a Compost Heap or Bin
In order to get good compost, you will need to add the right materials to your compost heap or bin. The best materials to add include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, tea bags, plant material as well as grass cuttings.
These types of materials will break down fairly fast and provide nitrogen and moisture to the compost.
It is also a good idea to include other materials, such as cardboard egg boxes, crumpled-up paper, and fallen leaves.
These materials will rot slower but provide vital fiber and carbon and will allow for air to circulate throughout the mixture.
Crushed eggshells can also be added for minerals.
There are some items that should not be added to a compost heap or bin.
These include meat and dairy products.
As well don’t add any diseased plants or droppings from your dog or cat.
You also don’t want to put baby diapers into a compost heap.
First of all, any of these items will end up smelling pretty bad and could lead to unwanted pests, such as bugs and rodents getting into the compost.
You also don’t want to add weeds such as dandelions or seed heads from your plants and flowers.
Plastic, glass, and metals are also unsuitable for composting and need to be recycled.
What to Add to Your Compost Heap
Get it right! Getting good composting means making sure you get the mix right. Browns and greens need to be properly balanced.
- Greens include grass clippings, coffee grounds/tea bags, vegetable and fruit scraps, and trimmings from perennial and annual plants.
- Browns include leaves, straw, hay, and sawdust and are high in carbon which is a good source of energy for the compost microbes.
You also need to make sure that your compost heap or bin gets enough air. This is important so that the material composts and doesn’t just rot.
Adding crumpled-up paper and cardboard is a simple but effective way to create air pockets. You can also add air to the material by turning or mixing the contents.
One way to ensure your compost has the correct enzymes to do the job is to add a compost activator to the mixture. The activator helps turn your waste into dark, rich, and great compost in less than half the time.
All you need to do is add it to the compost heap or bin. In a matter of weeks, your compost will be ready to spread in your garden. A compost activator can also revive a compost heap or bin that isn’t doing well.
How to Get the Best Out of Your Compost
You will know when your compost is ready because you will have a dark brown soil-like layer at the bottom of your compost heap or bin. It will have a spongy type of texture and will be full of nutrients.
Now all you need to do is spread the compost over your flower and garden beds to improve the soil quality. This compost will help retain moisture and suppress those pesky weeds.
As well, good compost will reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Look at all The Great Composters!
