Composting

Are you concerned about composting? Worried that it is too difficult or too much work? Don't be. There are many different ways to turn leaves, grass, weeds and other plant wastes into compost.

One of the easiest methods is a procedure called sheet composting. This occurs naturally on the forest floor or in every garden you mulch. To sheet-compost spread a layer of grass, leaves or other plant material over the soil surface. Time, weather and microorganisms will eventually turn this material into compost. Speed up the process by shredding the material with your lawn mower or a shredder, prior to spreading it on the soil. The smaller the pieces, the faster it decomposes. You can further speed up this process by spading or tilling this organic matter into the soil.

Trench composting is another simple method. Dig a trench, fill it with plant waste and cover with soil. Gardeners with limited space may want to use trench composting and raised beds to make the most of limited garden space. Start by placing plant waste in pathways of your garden. This mulches the pathway, and helps to control weed growth.

As you walk across the plants in the path you help break them down and speed up decomposition. At the end of the season fill pathways with any remaining plant debris. Cover with soil. Next year use composted pathways as planting beds and last year’s planting beds as pathways. This method allows you to save space while composting and rotating crops in a small garden.

The pile method of composting is simple. Just throw your plant waste in a heap and let it rot.

There are several methods of pile composting. One is the use of a holding bin. The holding bin is a structure designed to hold plant waste. As you pull weeds, cut grass and rake leaves, add these materials to the bin. Given enough time, the materials in the holding bin will eventually decompose and become compost. Mixing wet materials such as grass and kitchen scraps with dry leaves, straw or woodchips prevents odor problems caused by excess moisture.

Turning bins are designed to allow for easy and convenient turning of the compost pile. Some turning bins have two or three sections. Start the compost pile in one bin. As you turn the pile, move it from one bin to the other. You can also use portable bins as turning bins. When the pile is ready to be turned, remove the bin and set it next to the original location. Then turn the compost into the bin in the new location. This makes turning a lot easier.

Tumbler composters are also available. These are useful for people with bad backs, limited space or small amounts of plant wastes. Tumblers use rollers or ropes for easy turning. Select a tumbler that is big enough to handle your yard waste, sturdy enough to stand up to our weather and easy to load and unload.

Add fruit and vegetable scraps such as potato and carrot peelings, apple cores and melon rinds to any compost system. Avoid adding meat scraps to compost piles.

For more information on composting, contact your local extension office.

Article provided by http://www.solutions.psu.edu