Compost, What to Compost, Compost Pile

About Compost

Compost is probably the best soil amendment that a gardener can use, it is cheap to make, doesn’t burn your plants like commercial fertilizers can and is good for the environment.

Like the bumper sticker says “Compost Happens,” eventually most organic things decompose, it’s the cycle of life. So even if you do nothing all your yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings and kitchen wastes like bread, vegetable & fruit scraps will decompose into compost, but it takes time. How can you speed this process along into a rich earthy smelling, nutrient rich, organic soil amendment that promotes plant growth as well as healthy well-balanced soil? The answer is easy, start a compost pile!

Click Here to find out About Starting a Compost Pile

Compost is a mixture that consists of decayed organic matter. That is used to fertilize and condition the soil.

Organic matter consists of yard trimmings, food wastes, and manures.

Compost can:

Help control plant diseases and pests.
Reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizers.
Promote higher yields of agricultural crops.

Below is list from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on what to compost and what not to compost.

What to Compost - The IN List

Animal manure
Cardboard rolls
Clean paper
Coffee grounds and filters
Cotton rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells
Fireplace ashes
Fruits and vegetables
Grass clippings
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
Houseplants
Leaves
Nut shells
Sawdust
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips
Wool rags
Yard trimmings

What NOT to Compost - The OUT List

Leave Out / Reason Why

Black walnut tree leaves or twigs / Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
Coal or charcoal ash / Might contain substances harmful to plants
Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt) / Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Diseased or insect-ridden plants / Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
Fats, grease, lard, or oils / Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Meat or fish bones and scraps / Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter) / Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides / Might kill beneficial composting organisms

Use your finished compost in your garden or lawn to help condition the soil and replenish nutrients.

Click Here to find out About Starting a Compost Pile