Compost How-To

Composting doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming.
Using the things your lawn and trees produce can greatly benefit your gardens and flower beds!
Here is a quick look at some composting methods you can use:

• Lawn Composting – Rake no more! Utilizing a mulching mower on leaves and let them remain on the law.
The bits of leaves will decompose and return organic matter to the soil. This is the easiest method of composting.

• Leaf Heap Composting – Another easy composting method is to stack leaves in the yard to decompose for a year or two.
The leaves will turn into a nice mulch with no turning or other hands-on work. You can also add vegetable scraps to the
compost pile by burying them in the leaves. Just be mindful to exclude meat, fish, dairy, grease or pet droppings.
These can attract rodents and flies.

• Fast Compost Pile method – This method requires a bit more work than others. Pick a shady location in your yard that is
convenient for adding kitchen scraps. This faster decomposing pile is made up of one quarter green material mixed with three quarters
brown materials and a handful of soil for microbe introduction.  Green materials contain nitrogen and include grass clippings, vegetable
and fruit scraps, fresh weeds, coffee or tea grounds and egg shells. Refrain from treated grass clippings. Brown materials have carbon and
include leaves, straw, corncobs and dead plants. The combination provides food and body building nitrogen for the microbes. Because microbes
need oxygen, move materials around with a pitchfork every week, especially in the first few months. If piles get dry, add water. Too much water,
deprives the pile of oxygen, so don’t overwater. If you have difficulty maintaining moisture, a burlap cover may help. When temperatures fall
below 40 degrees, the pile will be dormant and can be left to rest for the cooler weather. 

Once your compost is done, it will be dark brown and be crumbly like soil. You can use this homegrown compost to improve soil by using it in
planting beds or using it as mulch.

Adding the compost to your lawn can increase the nutrients your plants receive, improve drainage and allow roots to get air.

Need more info or have questions? Email us at: info@niswmd.org