Everyone has to start somewhere and composting for the home garden is no different. There are things that can go wrong with your composting and you might find it a little tricky when you first start off – I know we did. Here is a list of suggestions to making good compost. And some solutions to fix bad compost.
1) There is a ration of 20 brown/carbon rich to 1 green/nitrogen rich that you don’t want to stray too far from. Some say 25 to 1 others say 15 to 1 it will depend greatly on how much nitrogen is in the plant types you are using – sawdust in high carbon – fertilized green lucerne is high nitrogen and most other things are somewhere in between. A good rule of thumb is if it’s green it’s nitrogen – if it’s brown it’s carbon.
2) Don’t put your compost pile in a hollow, put it on a hill or build up a mound, otherwise you may find your compost full of water. Also in times of massive rain events it might be a good idea to through an old tarp or plastic sheet over your compost pile.
3) Make sure you have a combination of shapes and sizes – some sticks smashed – leaves mowed – grass mulched etc this will leave spaces for air to become trapped and save you some effort turning the compost, as it doesn’t pack down quite to much into a mat.
4) As far as your garden is concerned even partly composted is better than not composted at all – but it’s best to get it up to a high temperature to kill all those weed seeds before you spread them on your garden. So the bigger the pile the better chance of getting the heat needed – at least 1 cubic meter
Solutions To Fix Bad Compost
1) Compost Stinks.
Your compost is far too wet – anaerobic activity happening. Add both nitrogen based material – green and carbon based – dry/browns. Turn compost – to dry it out, mix new ingredients and add air
Needs Aeration – Add lime to your compost Aerate – frequently turn compost
Meat or dairy protein, fat/oil or feces – Remove the offending substance – Cover compost pile with lime – Add cover compost with soil – Turn compost – to mix new ingredients and add air
2) Maggots, Flies, Rats and other intruders.
Meat or dairy protein, fat/oil or feces – Remove the offending substance – Cover compost pile with lime – Cover compost with soil – Turn compost – to mix new ingredients and add air.
3) Compost Too Slow Breaking down
Not enough nutrients – Add both nitrogen based material – green and carbon based – dry/browns – keep an eye on ratio if it’s cold add more green than brown
Needs Aeration – Turn compost – to mix new ingredients and add air
Not enough water – Lightly spray compost with water while turning.
I hope these tips help in some small way to making your gardening an enjoyable experience. Also you might like to think about a compost tumblers to take the back break out of composting.
happy gardening
PS. If you want to boost you garden and make it bloom try humus colloid – Now you can make your own -Imagine an entire heap of pure humus colloidal … made without turning, without a compost bin, without a tumbler, and without odor problems.