Why compost?
Composting preserves landfill space. Approximately 18 percent of the annual national municipal solid waste generated in the U.S. each year is made up of yard wastes. An even greater percentage occurs in the peak months of yard waste production. When these wastes are taken to landfills, they contribute to problems of methane gas, acidic leachate, and settling difficulties at the disposal facilities. Diverting these wastes from landfills reduces waste collection and disposal costs.

How are compost piles made?
A compost pile may be started directly on the ground surface, using a container or structure which will save space, hasten decomposition, and keep the yard looking neat.

The many options to composting can be easily tailored to individual needs. The following easy steps describe how to construct a simple compost pile.

1. Select a level area near a water source.
2. Apply a 3" - 6" layer of chopped brush or other coarse materials such as branches, dead leaves, straw, and twigs to allow air circulation around the base of the heap.
3. Add 6" of grass clippings, manure, sawdust and kitchen food scraps. Materials should be kept damp, but not wet and soggy. An occasional sprinkle of soil is also a welcome addition to this layer. Cutting or shredding the above ingredients helps speed the composting. Remember, when constructing your pile, try to alternate "greens" (food scraps, grass clippings, manure) and "browns" (straw, leaves, woody materials) to help balance the proportion of carbon and nitrogen in the pile, which is food for the microorganisms.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the pile is sufficient in height. The ideal pile is 4 to 5 feet wide and high.
5. Every couple of weeks, turn the pile and water it until damp. Turning the pile more often makes compost faster.

A properly made heap will reach temperatures up to 160 degrees F in several days. During this time you will notice settlement in the pile. This is a good sign that your pile is working properly.

The composting process may last from a few weeks to many months depending on the types of materials you use for compost, water requirements, and how often you turn the pile.

Compost is ready for use when the decomposition process is completed. The compost will appear dark brown, crumbly, and will have an earthy smell.

Let the material sit a few extra days to stabilize it, then you may want to screen it through a 1/2 inch screen. Apply 1-3 inch layers of compost to your garden or around trees and shrubs. Treat your lawn by spreading 1/2 inch of sifted compost over a given area in the spring.

Composting do's and don'ts

• DO mix a variety of other vegetative food scraps with grass clippings and leaves. Clippings tend to compact, which may inhibit the flow of air through the pile.
• DO keep the pile damp, but never soggy.
• DON'T use the compost from a pile until the composting process is complete. Unfinished compost may take nitrogen away from your plants instead of acting as a fertilizer.
• DON'T add fish, meat, dairy products, bones, fatty foods, or grease to your compost pile. These food scraps do not easily decompose and may attract animals.
• DON'T use diseased plants or plants that are toxic to other plants. Also, avoid weeds which produce abundant seeds, since they might not be killed during the composting process.
• DON'T add pet feces or used kitty litter. Although they may eventually break down in compost, they also harbor bacteria, germs, viruses, and parasites.

"At Pike Nurseries, our Certified Nursery Professionals are always ready to assist you with the finest in quality, service and selection." - William L. "Pete" Pike

Copyright 2001 Pike Nurseries, Inc.
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