Home Composting - Turn Yard Waste into Gardener's Gold
Through the natural process of composting, leaves and
grass clippings from your yard can be transformed into a
soil-enriching substance called compost. The steps for
making compost outlined here reflect the experience of
volunteer Master Composters working in Southeast Oakland
County.
Materials for Composting
To avoid nuisances and odors, select the materials for
your compost pile with care. Check with your Department of
Public Works for specific home composting regulations.
Good materials for composting:
- Grass clippings
- Leaves – shredded if possible
- Spent flowers & garden clippings
- Young weeds (without seeds)
- Hedge trimmings
- Fruit & vegetable peelings
- Lettuce leaves
- Coffee grounds, filters and tea bags
- Fertilizer
- Soil or compost
Do not compost the following:
- Dairy products
- Oils and fats
- Meat, fish, bones
- Pet manure; cat litter
- Cooked food
- Diseased plants
- Black walnut leaves
- Bread
- Weeds with seeds
- Invasive weeds
For an ideal composting mix, combine shredded leaves (50%
of total volume), green grass clippings (25% of total
volume) and soil or compost (25% of total volume). Start
with available yard clippings and add other materials, as
needed, to balance the pile. The "green" materials
have a high nitrogen content which typically causes the pile
to heat up and decompose more quickly. To avoid odors, make
sure that green materials are mixed thoroughly with brown
materials and soil.
Building the Compost Pile
To build the pile, following these steps:
- Start with a layer of organic materials such
as shredded leaves, grass or other garden debris.
- Water the layer until it is as moist as a
wrung-out sponge.
- Add 2"-3" of soil or compost – to provide
microorganisms.
- If possible, mix all materials together as you
build the pile.
- Continue the process of adding organic
materials, soil and water until the bin is filled. Add
grass clippings in small amounts and mix in thoroughly.
- Water each layer…and check moisture
periodically. Build the pile to a size of 3 feet x 3
feet x 3 feet or slightly larger – or fill the compost
bin.
Turning the Pile Turning and mixing the compost pile with a pitchfork or
compost turner adds oxygen and accelerates the rate of
decomposition. The pile may be turned once a week, once a
month, several times a year, or not at all. If the pile is
mixed from time-to-time and kept moist, finished compost is
usually available in six to nine months. Don’t worry about
the temperature of the pile – either hot or cold composting
yields beneficial compost.
NOTE: For information about home composting workshops,
contact the SOCWA Healthy Lawn and Garden Program at (248)
288-5150 weekdays.
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