Backyard Composting
Ready to start your own backyard compost pile? It’s easy.*
1. Put It Down
Decide where your compost pile should be, then repurpose an old trash can, buy a specially made bin at a hardware store, or check out some creative solutions on Pinterest. You can even put your pile right on the ground.
2. Fill It Up
Alternate nitrogen-rich green and carbon-rich brown layers. Add new material regularly. Be sure to chop food into relatively small pieces, so they’ll break down faster and more evenly. Turn your pile every week or so. This helps distribute oxygen to feed the good bacteria, which are actively working to break down the material into compost. Don’t be alarmed if your compost gets steamy or stinky – that means the decomposition process is in full swing!
3. Use It
It will take 2-3 months before your compost is ready to use. At that point, it’ll be dark and crumbly with a pleasant, earthy smell.
- Mix compost with potting soil to nourish house plants
- Use compost as garden mulch to help retain water
- Sprinkle a little compost in the bottom of a hole or row before planting seeds
- Add compost to light, sandy soil to retain more moisture and nutrients
- Add compost to heavy, clay-like soil to improve drainage
Tips and Tricks
Do Add These Items to Your Pile
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Vegetable peelings
- Rotten fruits
- Tea leaves and bags
- Dryer and vacuum lint
- Eggshells
- Nutshells
- Dry grass and leaves
- Shredded newsprint (non-toxic inks only)
- Corncobs (cut into small pieces)
- Wood shavings and wood ash
- Hay and straw
Don’t Add:
- Pet manure
- Oily and fatty food
- Diseased or insect-infested plants
- Meat and bones
- Dairy products
- Pine Needles
- Weeds