5 Composting Tips And Tricks
Compost is quite dynamic in nature. Always changing, mixing, thriving and decomposing all of the materials to create outstanding enrichment for the soils of your gardens, farm fields, trees and more. And there’s no secret to keeping a compost pile active, dynamic and thriving, however there are some tips you may find quite useful in helping to ensure the compost pile is working at its very best.
1. Strive for balance with your compost ingredients. You don’t have to carefully measure what you’re putting into the compost pile, just remember that you need a solid mix of both green and brown materials. Many of your brown materials should be coarse too so you’re sure to have plenty of airflow throughout the pile.
Try not to add to much of any single ingredient to the compost pile though, or this could cause your compost to stagnate instead of progress. Variety is always best for getting dynamic and active composting results, and this should be easy because of the huge number of things just around your home which can be added to the pile.
2. Choose the right compost bin. In most cases, compost will thrive at it’s best when placed in contact with the ground. This is because the ground allows worms and other insects to burrow up into the compost pile and help decompse the materials there. A simple compost bin made of wooden pallets is an excellent inexpensive option.
Many people prefer however, to buy and use commercial composting bins. Some of these have special features such as easy turning, loading and unloading. Keep in mind that not all bins will produce the same results though, so if you find yourself constantly trying to increase the activity of your compost pile you may want to consider trying a different composting bin.
3. Keep your compost moist. Compost needs to be damp or moist, but not sopping wet. Depending upon the area you live in and the types of materials you’re adding to your compost pile, you may never need to add supplemental water to the pile. If it looks like it’s getting dry though, go ahead and sprinkle it a bit to ensure it’s moist. If you accidentally add to much water, you can take some of the run off and use it to water your plants. This run off is known as compost tea.
4. Give your pile plenty of air. The key ingredient to making compost is bacteria. That’s what helps break down all the organic material into the rich compost you want. And bacteria needs air to survive and thrive. So be sure your compost pile has plenty of air throughout it. You can ensure there’s plenty of air by turning the pile periodically, or you can simply mix in plenty of coarse material such as straw and hay so it can create air pockets throughout the pile.
5. Keep an eye on the heat. An active, dynamic compost pile generates heat because of all the activity. Some say there are ideal temperatures your compost pile should achieve, and you could even keep an eye on the exact temperature of your compost pile as it develops by keeping a thermometer on hand and checking it every day.
And a bonus tip: If you find your compost pile doesn’t seem to be overly active in the beginning, you can really jump start the process by adding a bit of human urine. This is one of the best natural compost activators known.
