How to Understand, use, and make Garden Compost

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By gahazeleyes
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Understand, use, and make Garden Compost

Composting is decomposition of organic matter that is added to your garden soil to enrich with essential nutrients and improve the soil texture, plus encourage beneficial microorganisms. Making compost is not as difficult as one may think.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Bin(s) or garbage can
Weeds
Plants material
Animal material
grass clippings

Step 1

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First decide where you will like to make your compost. Such as an out of the way corner of your yard (if you have a large yard), or you can build or purchase a compost bin.
Step 2

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You can even use an old garbage can. Drill holes in the bottom and sides of the garbage can. You will have to fluff and turn the material, but using a trash can method will help to keep animals away.
Step 3

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The main ingredients in the compost pile are weeds, grass, fruit and vegetable scraps. To make it simple, a compost pile is waste material from plants and animal waste piled in one place, allowed to rot until it becomes unrecognizable. Turning into a dark, moist soil like material that is full of nutrients and will have a fresh earthy smell. This will take six months to a year.
Step 4

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The reason for compost is for the nutrients it contains, it prevents weeds seeds from germinating, help to keep water from evaporating from the soil, and improves the soil. If the soil lacks enough nutrients, plants will weaken and die, or grow with defects. A variety of waste can be recycled into your compost pile.
Step 5

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Organic matter to add will be: plant debris, grass clippings, bruised fruit and vegetables, egg shells, wood ash, fallen leaves from trees, old straw, pieces of crumpled news paper, old or cut flowers, tea bags, coffee grounds, animal manure (cows, goats, poultry, rabbits, horse, sheep, pigs).
Step 6

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Do not use too much of any one type of material at once to the compost pile. Turn the compost pile often with a shovel or pitch fork. The process of decomposition is done by microorganisms, and it requires air, moisture, and warmth.
Step 7

Do not add cooked food and meat products. To speed up the process, shred or chop any material before adding to the compost pile. Composting material should be moist (not too wet).