How to Compost
Every type of garden soil can be improved with additional organic matter, and one of the best and easiest ways to get organic matter into your soil is by adding compost. In fact, compost is simply organic matter that has already broken down sufficiently for its minerals and nutrients to be accessible to plants. You can buy compost, or you can make your own.Organic material decays most quickly if blended with approximately equal parts of the following:
Nitrogen-rich soft and green material
- Manure from chickens, cows, horses, rabbits, pigs, guinea pigs, and other herbivores
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Grass clippings
- Green leaves
- Strips of turf
- Alfalfa
Carbon-rich brown and material
- Wood chips
- Ground-up twigs
- Sawdust
- Pruning scraps
- Autumn leaves
- Straw
Making your own compost is beneficial for your garden, and it lets you recycle yard and kitchen waste. Keep reading to learn about starting your own compost pile.
This equipment isn't necessary for composting, but it might make the job easier.
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Looking for more information about gardening? Try these:
- How to Start a Garden: Find out how to get your garden started.
- Garden Soil Tips: Learn everything you need to know about your garden's soil.
- Vegetable Garden Soil: Learn how to prepare, test, and fertilize soil for a successful vegetable garden.
- Annuals for Average Soil: Learn about annual flowers that thrive in average soil.
- Perennials for Average Soil: Find out which perennials do best in average soil.
- Gardening: Learn the basics of successful gardening.
