A Startup Guide for Composting

One of the essential elements of having a successful garden is making sure that you have a great compost pile. When most people think of starting their own compost pile, they tend to feel a little lost. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to find information on what you need to do in order to start your own compost pile. There are a few key things that every beginner needs to know when they are starting their own pile that can save them tons of trouble later on down the road.

You have probably heard the phrase, “location, location, location” in reference to real estate, but probably never heard it used when discussing compost piles. The location of your compost pile is probably one of the most important parts of starting the heap. The first decision you need to make about location is how you are going to store the pile. Most people build their own compost pile bin out of wood. Others buy newer containers that even have a feature that makes them easy to rotate. The type of container you use is strictly up to you. Another important element of location has to do with making sure that your pile is getting adequate air flow. You want the pile to be in a location on your yard where air will hit every part of the pile. Oxygen is what helps the microorganisms to break down the pile so that it can be used on your garden. This will also keep the smell down as well.

Another big issue for those new to composting is knowing what type of stuff to put into their pile. There are a lot of great items and leftovers that you can throw in your compost pile that will make your soil very fertile and nutrient rich. One of the tricks that many serious gardeners use to start their compost piles is that if it is something that got its origin naturally (such as fruits and veggies) then it is safe to place the item in the pile. You can also compost coffee grounds and egg shells. One thing you might not be aware of is that you should not put any type of glossy paper into the pile. If you use a shredder, you can apply paper to the compost heap as well.

After you have all of this figured out, you need to make sure to take proper care of your compost pile. This means that you need to check it regularly to see how moist it is. You do not want the pile to be too wet, as this can prevent it from breaking down correctly. You want to also make sure that you rotate the compost pile regularly. This is a great way to prevent the pile from getting too wet and also making sure it gets a good amount of oxygen all through its layers. Many individuals have two different compost piles going on together so that they can move the material between the two different sites. This is completely up to your own personal preference.