Over 20% of the waste brought to landfills comes from landscaping waste such as leaves and grass clippings. An alternative to handle yard and kitchen waste is to consider composting waste into organic matter. This organic matter can then be added to soil to help improve texture, drainage, nutrition, and overall productivity. Composting can be economical and convenient for any homeowner.
The process of composting is where bacteria and fungi decompose or digest the provided waste material, producing a uniform organic matter. Good things to compost include grass clippings, leaves, vegetable materials, twigs, wood chips, and more. You should note, some materials should not be composted as they can be a health risk or attract pests. Things like human or pet waste, diseased plants, meat, grease, dairy products, inorganic materials, or plants treated with pesticides should all be omitted from your compost pile.
In order to develop a compost pile, there are a few rules of thumb to follow. You can purchase pre-made composting bins, make your own composting bin, or even compost in a pile on the ground. More important than how you compost is where you place it. The best location for the pile is in an area protected from wind and water runoff that receives partial sunlight.
Making compost depends on three things—correct layering and turning, correct moisture, and a healthy fungi and bacterial population. A good compost pile is layered, and each layer should be moistened as you add it. Do not overwater the pile, but understand that moisture is key for bacterial and fungi growth. If you do add too much water, the compost pile will smell foul. To correct overly moist compost, turn the pile more frequently and add more woody materials. When layering your compost pile, the base layer should contain bulkier items like wood chips or twigs, as they will decompose faster as the bottom layer. The other thing bulky items do is allow for air movement, which is essential for maintaining proper temperature throughout the compost. After this first layer, add eight to ten inches of lighter waste like leaves, grass, and plant trimmings, followed by a one-inch layer of soil or completed compost. The addition of soil or completed compost is essential as that is what provides your starter bacteria and fungi to the new compost pile. If you do not have any completed compost on hand, you do not need to purchase a commercial compost in order to start your pile- normal soil and organic materials will contain sufficient microbes to get you started. Next, you should add a nitrogen source to your compost pile on top of the soil/compost layer. Nitrogen is essential for the rate of decomposition of the materials you compost, and a great source of nitrogen is livestock manure. If you choose to use manure, layer 2-3 inches of it—but beware not to use manure if the animals have grazed on herbicide treated pastures. If you don’t have manure, a nitrogen source such as 10-10-10 fertilizer can be applied at one cup per 25 sq ft of composting area. Complete this layering sequence until you complete the pile.
Once your pile is established, be sure to turn or mix the pile at least once a month. This helps to ensure even decomposition and reduces pests and pathogens. A good active compost pile should be between 130 and 160 degrees in the middle for optimum decomposition. The compost is done when the pile is around half of its original size and appears uniform in composition, anywhere from 2-4 months to a year, depending on season and management.
If you have questions on composting, let us know at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233!
