I'm feeling inspired this year and want to start composting. Can you tell me more about composting and what I can and can't use? Willow
Answer
Dear Willow - Composting is a wonderful way to dispose of every day food items, decaying house plants, and much more that can be used to nourish your garden.
You can start by finding an area outside that you want to use for your compost pile. Allow enough room so it can be about 3 feet by 3 feet and eventually reaching 3 feet high. There are all sorts of things on the market for compost bins made out of plastic or wood, but don't feel like you have to go that route. All you need is the space for a pile.
You'll need to start collecting the raw materials to add to the compost pile: think "browns" and "greens". "Browns" are items that are rich in carbon such as fall leaves, dead plants, paper towels, ripped up newspaper. "Greens" are items that are rich in nitrogen like grass clippings, vegetable and fruit kitchen waste (no meat products). Collect each group in a separate container before adding to the compost pile.
Start your compost pile with a layer of "Browns". Next add a layer of "Greens" followed by a thin layer of soil. As you build the compost pile try to add about three times the amount of "Browns" as you do "Greens". Here are some things to avoid putting in your compost:
1) Animal feces from carnivores like dogs and cats
2) Bags & filters that contained your tea leaves and coffee grounds
3) Meat
4) Sticky labels from fruits and vegetables
5) Glossy/Coated paper
6) Saw dust from wood that might have been stained or painted
7) Large branches
8) Citrus peels and onions (will harm your worms)
9) Dairy products
10) Oils/Grease
Composting is an ongoing process, from one month to two years for full decomposition. You will want to turn your pile at least every month to allow the core to heat up and encourage faster decomposition. Adding water will help speed up the process as well. You will know your compost is ready when it has a sweet aromatic smell and appears dark brown or black. "Bad" odors are caused by an excess in moisture or lack of oxygen, which you can resolve by turning, poking, and mixing your pile more frequently.
Composting is a fun way to recycle and create great planting soil.
View As PDF
To view a PDF of this article, please
click here.
About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
