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HOME:    GARDEN BASICS:   COMPOSTING

Introduction Gardening Equipment: Tools for getting started Soil Preparation Composting Fertilization Use of Pesticides in the home landscape Organic Gardening Irrigation

By definition, composting is the recycling of waste organic materials through decomposition and application to soil. It is a good way to eliminate household and yard waste while at the same time improving garden soils. A healthy soil is the critical to gardening success. Composting happens naturally but we can help speed the process by utilizing techniques that enhance the microbe's ability to do their job. Composting can be pursued at many different levels, from the gardener who likes to produce "black gold" to operation of a multi-acre commercial composting facility. Gardeners who compost their own landscaping and food scraps can follow a few simple rules of thumb and needn't worry about complex formulas, chemical equations, or studies of microorganisms. The most common way to compost is to collect organic matter in open piles or place the material into bins or barrels. It is important to include only appropriate organic materials in the compost pile. These include almost anything garden or table waste that is plant-derived. Exceptions are plant materials that may harbor disease, may include noxious weed seeds, or those that have been treated with a persistent herbicide. Materials derived from oily foods or animal products should not be included in the compost pile. A compost pile is created by layering green plant materials, brown and woody plant materials, and garden soil. Once the pile is constructed, success with composting depends on providing decomposing microbes with the conditions they need to grow and thrive. Basic needs include oxygen, moisture, and nutrients. These are met by turning (mixing) the pile weekly, occasionally adding water to the pile to maintain good moisture, and adding a small amount of fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Good compost can be created in as little as six weeks if temperatures are warm and management optimal. Under less ideal conditions, it may take much longer. An optional way to compost is to utilize worms. This technique works for composting inside the home for those who live in apartments or otherwise lack space for the more common ways of composting. For a comprehensive discussion of composting principles, avail yourself of the publication from the University of Idaho called Composting at Home (CIS 1066), found at: http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Resources/PDFs/CIS1066.pdf. or read the composting section of the University of Idaho Master Gardener's Handbook: www.ag.uidaho.edu/mg/handbook/MGH07.pdf. For a simpler treatment of composting, see the Penn State site, at: www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Compost/Home3.htm. To learn how to compost using worms, visit the follow Washington State University site: whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Redwormsedit.htm. top