An Overview of How to Compost
Yard wastes, such as grass clippings, leaves, garden debris, and small twigs, can be composted in your backyard.
A commercial compost bin, helps keep the process tidy and it may accelerate the composting process, but a simple pile in a corner of the backyard is also effective.
As a general rule, you will want to adhere to at least a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens in your pile. This is not a strict rule, but will help your composting process to move at a faster rate and with out any offensive odors. A layer of branches near the ground can help maintain airflow in the pile.
You may also want to turn your compost pile every few weeks. This will bring air to the bottom of the pile and help move the composting process along.
What makes good compost?
| YES | NO |
| Greens (Nitrogen): | Diseased plants |
| Grass clippings | Tenacious weeds: (Can take root in pile if not hot enough) |
| Garden scraps | Morning glory |
| Floral clippings | Dandelions |
| Uncooked vegetable and fruit trimmings | Thorny plants: |
| Egg shells | Roses |
| Coffee grounds | Blackberries |
| Tea bags | Waxy Coated Plants: (difficult to decompose) |
| Ivy | |
| Browns (Carbon): | Rhododendrons |
| Twigs | Evergreen needles |
| Deciduous leaves | Laurel |
| Straw | |
| Sawdust and wood chips |
Want to Learn More? If you wish to learn more about composting or how to accelerate the composting process, please see the following resources:
- Let it Rot! The Gardener's Guide to Composting by Stu Campbell (1995)
- http://www.solidwaste.org/compost.htm
- http://www.oldgrowth.org/compost/
- http://www.mastercomposter.com/