Compost tips
by the South Brunswick Garden Club

Compost is known as black gold to gardeners-improving garden soil, adding organic material and nutrients that plants need.

WHAT IS COMPOST?

Compost is a dark, crumbly, earth-like material created by the decomposition or "rotting" of organic matter, such as vegetable and fruit scraps, grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste. Using compost is a way to return to the soil some of the nutrients that are used by plants.

Why Should I Make Compost?
Compost can improve your soil and the plants growing in it.

Making Compost
Making compost is easy and fun to do. Here are two basic recipes for simple backyard composting.

SLOW COMPOSTING:
This method takes from six to eighteen months to produce finished compost, and requires very little time, energy and maintenance.

Put BROWN materials (such as leaves, twigs and other woody matter) and GREEN materials (such as grass, fruit and vegetable scraps) onto a heap or into a bin or a wire holding unit. (Maximum width or height of the heap, bin or holding unit should not exceed five feet.)

Let Mother Nature do the rest.

You can modify this procedure and shorten the time it takes to create compost by turning the pile occasionally. Or you can provide air to the pile by using a 'corkscrew" garden tool available from catalogues or some garden cents to 'drill' into the pile and lift. The air increases the decomposition rate. Another way to increase the decomposition rate is to add compost starter to the pile. This is available at some garden centers.

FAST COMPOSTING:
This method takes from three to six weeks to produce finished compost, but requires a little more time and maintenance.

Mix BROWN and GREEN materials together - about 50% of each color. Form into a heap or put into a bin or holding unit. The bin should permit easy removal of the material using a pitch fork or rake. (Minimum size of the heap, bin or unit is 3 ft. by 3 ft. by 3 ft.; maximum width or height should not exceed 5 ft.)

Add water to each six-inch layer of mixed materials until it is as moist as a wrung out sponge.

Move (or turn) the materials to a new area on the ground or into another bin after one week. Move again after two weeks. Add water, if needed, after each turning until the materials are as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

When your compost pile has completely decomposed, it will be dark brown, moist and crumbly. It will look and smell like earth. Your compost is now finished and ready to use.

Use the finished compost as a mulch around scrubs or other plants, mixed in with the soil or as a top dressing on lawns.

COMPOSTING NO-NO's:

• DO NOT locate a compost pile against a building or a wooden fence.
• DO NOT overwater. This can lead to odor problems.
• DO NOT make a compost pile of ONLY GREEN materials, unless you intend to turn it each day for two weeks.
• DO NOT "Dump and Run". Never leave food scraps showing as this attracts flies and produces odors. Add food scraps to the center of your heap or bin and use your pitchfork to make sure they are covered.
• DO NOT add meat scraps, bones, fat or dairy products to your compost pile. These materials can cause odors and attract rats and other vermin.