Garden Compost Facts

Wood chips and leaves make up the "brown" layer of compost.

Garden compost piles or compost bins are usually filled with garden and kitchen scraps, along with dry leaves and other organic materials. Ideally, make three piles -- one pile to add to, one actively composting, and one finished, ready for the garden.

Components

Your compost should have "green" layers and "brown" layers. Green layers are nitrogen-rich components such as kitchen scraps, manures and living, green garden cuttings. Brown layers contain dry leaves, paper-like material, sawdust and woodchips. Too much green and the pile goes rotten. Too much brown and the pile never heats up.

Size

Your compost pile can be any size you like, but will break down fastest if the volume is 1 cubic yard (3 by 3 by 3 feet). At this size, you should notice your compost pile building up heat as the microbes convert the pile into hummus.

Temperature

When the internal temperature is over 110 degrees F (but under 160), turn your compost pile. It should reach this temperature a few times, so investing in a compost thermometer will help. When you turn the pile and it no longer heats back up, the compost is finished.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Building Your Compost Pile