How to Make a Homemade Compost Pile
Are you an avid gardener? If so, you know the importance of compost. Compost is a combination of decaying plants and other organic matter. It is a necessity in both flower and vegetable gardens. You may also add compost to the soil surrounding your trees and shrubs to encourage health and growth. You can easily make a homemade compost pile from scratch, while recycling and saving money. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Pitchfork
- Wire fencing
- Wooden or metal posts
- Grass clippings or leaves
Instructions
-
-
1
Look around your property and yard to determine the best location for a compost pile. The area needs to have exposure to air circulation and some sunshine. In an arid climate, place it where your garden hose can reach it. Place it some distance from your house unless you don't mind the occasional odor it may produce.
-
2
Dig a small pit. Remove the ground cover and hard topsoil to encourage the introduction of helpful earthworms. Remove a few inches of dirt in a circle with a diameter of about 5 feet. The pit provides a depression under the compost to keep water from quickly running off.
-
-
3
Place an enclosure around the pit if you plan to add any household food items or in areas of high wind. Compost piles composed of grass clippings do not usually require enclosures. Make a simple cylinder out of mesh wire fencing the same diameter as your circle. Attach small wood or metal posts to the wire to keep it in place. Keep the height of the wire low enough to allow easy access with a shovel to turn the compost. It should be sturdy enough to keep out raccoons, skunks and other foraging animals.
-
4
Begin adding ingredients to your compost pile. Empty your lawnmower bag directly into the bin. Rake leaves and add them to the mix. You can use anything growing in your yard. Just avoid placing weeds that have gone to seed into the pile. Adding these can introduce weed sprouts into garden areas.
-
5
Add food items to the compost. Toss all your aged leftovers into the bin. Egg shells can go right into the mixture, as well as any vegetable and fruit waste. Add your banana, apple, avocado and orange peels to the pile. Do not put any bones or meat in compost.
-
6
Layer the ingredients when adding them to the compost pile. Lightly sprinkle water while adding the various layers. Notice how the pile settles in after a couple of weeks. Turn the pile with a shovel or a pitchfork to allow air circulation. The middle of the pile should feel warm and moist. Water again if the interior seems to be drying out and not producing heat.
-
7
Stop adding materials to the compost pile once it is 3 or 4 feet deep. You may choose to start another pile at this point. Allow the materials to age before adding them to your garden soil or flower pots. The aging process normally takes between three and four months. Continue turning the ingredients every few weeks. You can begin using the compost when it becomes crumbly and takes on an earthy smell and dark brown color.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Many other methods of creating the enclosure exist. Check the resource below for making an enclosure out of plastic bottles.
Do not add food items that have been packed in alcohol or brine; these can damage the microorganisms and earthworms that are working hard to create your healthy garden compost. Avoid placing oils and fats in the pile; they may cause unpleasant odors.
