Pretty much any type of organic matter will eventually decompose if it has sufficient time and the right conditions. But, even with that said, you don't want to toss any old organic materials on your compost pile. The main components that make up a good compost heap will come right from your yard and can included grass clippings and leaves. Small twigs and wood products that have been ground up into sawdust are acceptable as well.
In most backyard composting, the largest single contributor is the huge amount of leaves that rain down each autumn season. In addition, grass clippings can be added to it if they are not mulched and left to nurture the lawn itself. When lawn clippings are used in the compost mix they should be used together with other yard waste elements.
If you have twigs, branches or logs that are bigger than a quarter of an inch in diameter, then those need to be put through a shredder or grinder before going onto the compost pile. Another option, if you don't have a shredder available, is to use a corn knife to cut those items into pieces that are small enough to easily decompose.
Many types of kitchen waste items are also appropriate to be included in a compost pile. Fruit rinds, vegetable peelings and scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells that have been crushed are all perfectly acceptable to use in composting and this is a very effective way to recycle these kinds of materials.
There are some organic materials that need to be avoided and which should not be added because of potential health hazards or nuisances that can be created. No type of pet feces should be included in a compost heap because of potential diseases that can be transmitted. Any kind of meat, whole eggs, dairy products and grease should also be excluded because they will attract rodents and other vermin.
In most instances, diseased organisms that are common to plants and weed seeds are destroyed through the process of composting, as long as these components are in the center of the heap and the temperature in the center reaches at least 140 degree F. But, experts caution that it is difficult to assure that such waste will be brought to the center during the composting process. As a result, putting large amounts of diseased plants or weeds with seeds into your compost heap could end up causing problems and should be avoided.
A good compost pile needs a balance of materials that will enhance the decomposition process. In general, keeping the mix to a ration of about one-to-one of brown material with green material works well. Brown material includes items such as manure, decaying leaves, and newspaper and cardboard. Green material would include the hedge and grass clippings, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable peelings.
In order to help speed up the decomposition of the organic elements, it is best to have your compost pile contained in some type of structure. In addition, this also helps to make better use of space and minimizes the amount of area needed for your project. Compost bins are a good way to start and they provide the structure to manage the compost and also helps to keep the appearance neat and clean.
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Today's Tip On Composting
What can I do with my compost once it is done?
When your compost heap is broken down back into fertilizer you can use it in a variety of ways. You can use it in your garden. You can use it on your lawn and you can use it in your flower beds. Anywhere you use fertilizer you can use your compost material. It is that incredibly versatile and let us not forgets to mention that it is free. That is the best reason of all to compost your organic material.
