Composting - Answers To Common Questions

Composting yourself is free and makes some of the best fertilizer in the world. Sure, it does take some time but if you start work on it early you can have rich, dark soil by the time planting season comes around. Composting is environmentally friendly and once you know what can be composted and what cannot, you will be on your way to being eco-friendly.

In this article the basics of composting will be covered such as what it actually is technically and how you can begin your own compost heap in your own backyard.

How do I build a compost heap?

There are plenty of compost plans on the internet and do-it-yourself websites. Most people simply create a pile in one corner of their lot and create their compost heap there. But you want to be careful where you place your compost heap. It will need shade but will still need a little bit of daylight. The area will have to be kept moist and you will want to keep it away from the house and the neighbor's house so that the smell does not become a neighborhood issue. This is especially true if you use pet or animal waste. Rotting food will attract unwanted animals that will rummage through the pile scattering the decomposing material everywhere so be careful how you store your compost heap and what you place in it depending on what type of area in which you live.

What can I use to help the material break down?

If you want your compost heap and material to break down faster you are going to need to keep it aerated, moist and broken into smaller pieces. You can also help break down the material by adding worms and other small insects into the pile that will help eat the organic material. Their waste products are filled with great nutrients for the soil and before long you will have a compost heap that is ready to hit the garden to begin the cycle all over again. It is a circle of life that is a great example of Mother Nature at her finest and shows what recycling can do for the environment.

What can I do with my compost once it is done?

When your compost heap is broken down back into fertilizer you can use it in a variety of ways. You can use it in your garden. You can use it on your lawn and you can use it in your flower beds. Anywhere you use fertilizer you can use your compost material. It is that incredibly versatile and let us not forgets to mention that it is free. That is the best reason of all to compost your organic material.

How do I prepare the materials for composting?

Start preparing your compost pile by breaking up the materials into manageable pieces. The object is to help the materials break down or decompose faster. Larger pieces will hinder the process. A shredder works wonders for yard trimmings. If you are using manure you will want to take a pitch fork and break up the clumps before adding them into the pile. Try to keep the pieces to sizes around the shape of a leaf if it is at all possible. If you can keep them even smaller to help speed up the process that much faster and before long you will have a mound of fertilizer to use however you see fit.