How to Make Compost With Hay & Leaves
Compost is a product that is used to fertilize gardens, as well as to till in with the soil to prepare it for planting. Considered a "green" practice, composting is a way of reusing household and lawn waste. While not a difficult practice, composting does take time, and a little bit of effort in order to produce a rich well blended compost. Leaves and hay make a great compost starter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Compost container with ventilation holes
- Water
- Hay
- Leaves
- Organic waste
Instructions
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How to Make Compost with Hay and Leaves
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Place hay and leaves inside the compost container. There is no set amount to use, and since this is just the starter you will add much more over the season before you are ready to use the compost.
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2
Add 1 gallon of water to the leaves and hay. Compost is made by millions of microbes breaking down the organic matter, and they need not only the food, but also water and air to live. Keeping the compost moist is very important.
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3
Add any organic items that you have used in your home or from your lawn. This includes fruit peelings, egg shells, grass clippings, and even coffee grounds. If you come across more hay and leaves, add them as well.
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4
Turn your compost every week to infuse air throughout and mix the ingredients. Some compost containers actually rotate to make this easy for you, but you might need to use a pitchfork or shovel to turn your compost.
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5
Use the compost when it is the color and texture of good rich soil and you can't determine individual items or smells. This can take a few months to achieve. Some large pieces of hard to digest items such as the hay might be present but won't harm the compost's effect in your garden.
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