Compost Piles
How Wet Should I Keep My Compost Pile?
Decomposition in compost piles is an inexact science. Given time, all organic materials break down, assuming they are exposed to air and moisture. Ideal compost conditions, however, encourage the growth of microorganisms, which facilitate rapid decomposition. According to the Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service, compost piles function best at the approximate moisture level of a ...
How to Begin a Pile of Compost
Billions of bacteria and fungi are ready to go to work making compost for you. All you need to do is provide them with the conditions they need to grow and reproduce. Start saving the table scraps and yard waste you would normally toss out and use them to begin your compost pile. Adding compost to your garden improves soil structure, fertility and moisture retention. It also cuts back on the garbage your household ...
Foods That Can Go in the Compost Pile
Food waste that ends up in a landfill doesn't biodegrade without consequences. The decomposition process produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. In the U.S. alone, an unappetizing 26 million tons of food go to waste each year (see References 4). Composting is a simple way to return uneaten food back to the earth and enrich the soil for the next harvest. Don't attempt to ...
Bugs in Composting Piles
Compost piles naturally attract insects. In fact, in a healthy compost pile, insects play a vital role in the decomposition process. As entomologist Jack DeAngelis explains, compost piles have a microecology of their own (see References 1). Insects are needed to establish balanced compost ecology. Though an overabundance of a few specific insects may indicate an imbalance, a healthy compost pile reestablishes its ...
More Articles on Compost Piles
How Much Can a Compost Pile Heat?
Moderate heat is one of the signs of a healthy compost pile. A hot pile eliminates many pathogens and kills weed seeds that might otherwise end up sprouting in your garden. Knowing how much heat is normal and what to do if the compost heap is too hot or too cold helps you create the best possible finished product. (See References 1)
Garden Tips on How to Start a Compost Pile
A garden chore that improves the structure of your soil, feeds your plants with slow-release nutrients, helps prevent soil-borne diseases and lets you cut back on your household waste seems almost too good to be true (see References 2, page 20 and References 4, page 1). Compost turns common household trash into a valuable garden soil amendment.
How Much Does a Compost Pile Shrink?
Organic materials naturally decompose and turn into compost. Homeowners can take advantage of that fact to improve their gardens. Composting materials such as plant trimmings, shredded paper, grass clippings and kitchen scraps minimizes the amount of landfill-bound waste a household produces. Composting reduces the volume of those waste materials, and in the process produces a rich garden additive that's useful throughout the home landscape.
Land Fills & Compost Piles
The days of just throwing away an unwanted object are definitely over. As people become more aware of environmental pollution and destruction, the matter of where trash, garbage or other waste is thrown away becomes an issue of concern to everyone. Knowing about what landfills and compost piles can accomplish and the difficulties associated with them helps consumers know how to dispose of trash and garbage effectively.
Things to Put in a Compost Pile
Sweet-smelling, crumbly compost is the most important ingredient in your garden. Soil is a living, breathing organism, and compost and other organic matter are the foundation of its microbial life. When you build a compost pile, you are mimicking nature's process of turning plant waste into a long-term soil builder. "Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening" provides an outline for the type of things you should put in a compost pile.
How Do I Pile Compost?
Many gardeners simply pile the refuse from their garden in one spot on their property. Twelve to 18 months later, they are finally able to dig a small amount of compost from the bottom of the pile. To get more compost and get it faster, build your compost pile by piling up its ingredients in layers. Along with a small amount of additional periodic maintenance, building your compost pile this way will help it decompose more rapidly.
How to Add Lime to Compost Piles
Although adding lime to compost is a long-standing tradition among many gardeners, authorities are divided on whether it's beneficial. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service recommends it as a way to balance the pH of your compost (see References 1). Others note that it can reduce compost odors (see References 2). However, South Carolina's Smart Gardener Handbook advises against the use of lime on the grounds that finished compost usually has a neutral pH, and adding lime can reduce valuable nitrogen in your compost (see References 3, page 16). Most gardeners should add lime only to finished compost at the time of application, if soil pH is an issue.
How to Get Rid of Termites in a Compost Pile
Many insects inhabit compost piles, and in general their activity is beneficial (see References 1). Termites, for example, can turn slow-composting chipped wood or brush into powdery organic material in a matter of weeks (see References 4). However, termites in your compost are likely to colonize your home, causing serious damage to wooden portions of the structure. For that reason, if you find termites in your pile they should be eradicated. Pesticides are effective but undesirable in compost. Greener approaches include prevention, heating your compost pile and encouraging predation.
