Backyard Composting How-to advice to get started!
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 2
• • • What is compost? Why start composting? Pick a place. Build your pile. Active (hot) vs. passive (cool). How do I use it? Resources to learn more.
Compost Through History • Reference to use of manure in agriculture on clay tablets, 23 rd Century BC. • Romans and Greeks used compost. • William Shakespeare’s Hamlet advised: “Do not spread the compost on the weeds, to make them ranker. ”
Famous Composters • Many of America’s founding fathers were farmers. All used compost. • George Washington Carver said, “…a compost pile is essential and can be had with little labor and practically no cash outlay. ”
Compost importance grows • In 1905, British agronomist learned best compost consisted of three times as much plant matter as manure. • Rapid composting techniques developed in 1950 -1960 s.
What is Compost? • Organic material from decomposition of carbon (dried leaves), nitrogen (food scraps). • Happens naturally – certain techniques accelerate the process. • Dark, crumbly, soil-like.
Why is it Important? • Reduces waste stream. Yard and food scraps = 30% of landfill • Improves soil structure. • Retains moisture, slows run-off from rain. • Reduces need for fertilizer.
Starting a Compost Pile • Select a location – away from the house. • Make your own, buy a tub, use pallets for 3 -bin style.
Starting your Compost Pile - Ideal size is 3 ft. x 3 ft. (27 cubic ft. ) Easier to turn, maintain aerobic action - No larger than 5 x 5 Can be anaerobic if too large
What goes in your Compost Carbon: dried leaves, straw Nitrogen: food scraps, plants Water: moisture Oxygen
Carbon Nitrogen BROWNS GREENS Dried leaves Straw Shredded paper Drier lint Newspaper Pine needles Sawdust Peanut shells Kitchen scraps Coffee grounds & filter Tea bags Fresh garden trimmings Pet hair Manure (from herbivores: poultry, cattle, goat)
A Few Things to Avoid - Meat, bones - Dairy products - Fats and oils - Pet feces (dog, cat, other carnivores) - Wood ashes These can attract critters you don’t want, may create odd odors, or contain harmful bacteria/parasites.
Turn it to add Oxygen Keep the worms, bugs, microbes happy and eating your browns and greens. Use a pitch fork to turn the pile.
Bugs, worms, flies, oh my!
Bugs, worms, flies, oh my! • Soil invertebrates chew, decrease size of materials for microorganisms. • Mesophiles: microbes, decomposers that live and reproduce between 40 and 110 F. • Thermophiles: microbes, decomposers that live and reproduce between 110 and 170 F.
Active (hot) vs. Passive (cool) • Hot composting Materials added all at once. Temperatures 110 -140 +. Finished in three to four months. • Cool composting – Continuous pile. Add material as it’s available. – Trench. Kitchen scraps placed 12” deep and covered immediately. Typically near garden. – Sheet. Layers of newsprint, yard waste, dried leaves. Ready in six to eight months (next season).
Troubleshooting Materials not decomposing: Add water, turn pile to add oxygen, add more greens Ammonia odor: Add browns such as leaves, straw Rotten odor: Turn pile, add coarse dry materials. Bury food scraps
OK, when is it done? When: • material is even color, texture and has an earthy smell. • temp of pile is at outdoor temp. • a small amount in sealed plastic bag creates no condensation inside bag.
How to use your Compost • Mulch for garden, fruit trees • Top dressing on flowering plants • Soil improvement, helps change structure – Enhances moisture retention – Improves drainage in clay soil – Attracts earthworms which aerate soil
Compost Demonstration Sites Master Gardeners offer how-to advice at five locations in Howard County from April to November. Free bin to County residents. ü ü ü Schooley Mill Park Centennial Park Alpha Ridge Landfill Miller Branch library Robinson Nature Center
Top Reasons to Compost ü Reduces need for chemical fertilizers, mulch. ü Improves the structure of your soil. ü Reduces yard waste going to landfill. ü Slows storm water run-off, help protect Bay. ü Decreases water use in your landscape. ü It's easy. Good exercise!
Resources to Learn More • Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) extension. umd. edu/hgic/resources • HC Bureau of Environmental Services howardcountymd. gov/composting. htm • Howard County Master Gardeners
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