Compost
This page is the keypage for locating information on composting for all kinds of gardening. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking making the perennial garden bloom all summer or getting that whopping huge fresh tomato – it all starts here.
First Thing
To start you off – the single most interesting thing I’ve found about applying this material came from a commercial vegetable-production book from the 1800’s. In it, the author described how they applied 2 to 4 pounds of composted material per square foot of their gardens every year to maintain their fantastic yields and make a profit. Contrast that with the attitude many modern gardeners have of treating it as if it were gold and spreading it as thinly as possible. The thicker the better folks.
And that’s the first lesson; you can’t apply too much to modern garden soil.
Seond Thing to Know
The second lesson might be that this is quite fashionable right now - and everybody wants to make a buck on it. You'll see some interesting claims for starters and accelerators. Here's my take on starters
Low Cost Compost Equipiment
Speaking of fashionable and saving a buck, here's what I use for my kitchen compost container. Not fancy but it does the job.
To continue this series on low-cost solutions, here's what I use instead of compost thermometers.
Using a spreader is really for large lawns and gardens. Here's why.
Mushroom Compost
If you've been buying mushroom material for your own garden, you'll really want to read why I don't recommend you use it.
Compost Tea
And I continue giving practical advice on making tea. I really like using this stuff and try to brew up a batch every two weeks during the summer to spice up the garden's performance.
If you decide to make tea, then you might want to read this article before you purchase or make your own compost tea maker I'll tell you some pitfalls to avoid.
Coffee Grounds
Given I do love a morning cup of coffee, I have far too many grounds to just throw away. It's a good thing that coffee grounds and gardening go together like ham and eggs. Here's the scoop on using coffee grounds.
Worm Compost
Worm are easy to keep and the worm castings make excellent soil amendments. Even think about worms as pets, I mean, think about it - you don't have to walk them, you don't have to train them, they're quiet, never create a fuss when visitors come, nobody is allergic to them - these are great pets. And they make great worm compost from your daily kitchen garbage.
Building Your Own Systems
If you're a do-it-yourselfer (and what gardening soul doesn't have a little of that characteristic lurking in the background?) you'll want to read the instructions for building a compost bin inexpensively and easily. The critical thing is to get the size right.
Compost barrels are easily built and maintained like mine pictured here but they don't make a hot producet.
Compost Pile and Instructions
Once you've built a bin, knowing how to make a pile is pretty easy but important to your final success.
If you want to know what you can compost in your garden (and whether it is easy to break down or there's an easier way to handle the material.
Sometimes, you just get lazy in the garden and want a system of gardening that doesn't involve any kind of digging or turning or hauling stuff around. Here's an article on No-Dig-Gardens
Questions and Answers
Can I use a fountain pump instead of an air pump to brew compost tea?
Which fertilizer is best?
We have horse manure - when can we use it?
Can I use bagged manure from a garden center?
Got a Question about Compost?
If you have a question about compost, this is a good place to ask it.
Please understand that I get hundreds of questions every week from readers and I simply can't answer them all. I do my best and print quite a few in my free newsletter
Do give me as many details as possible.
What Other Visitors Have Asked About Compost
Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...
When to use compost
Hi Doug,
I have been composting for years and have developed a system in which I apply my compost to the gardens in the fall. Everywhere I look people ...
Revitalizing an almost-finished compost pile? Hi Doug! It's finally spring, and last year's compost pile has thawed, and it's *almost* ready, but not quite. It's nice and dark, but it's cooled down,...
green or brown compost
Hello I would like to know if banana plants and their leaves are considered green or brown for compost purposes. Thanks.
They're green. All plant refuse ...
How Much To Add I'm a new gardener, just planted about 80 canna lilies in beds dug all round the house and deck in front, this past Spring. I got a Mantis tiller to do ...
Using mulched leaves.
Would mulching all leaves and piling 4-5 inches on the garden each winter do about the same thing as compost?
Doug says that close counts :-) The piled ...
Covering the compost pile Can I cover my compost hill (which is about 6 feet from the patio deck) with black plastic. I have been told that it can spontaneously combust and cause ...
lovely compost draining away
Dear Doug,
I have built several raised beds (18" deep, each box about 4'x8') in our asphalt-covered driveway. It's south-facing (the only bit of the garden ...
Worm Composting Naturally How did red worms ever get to be so highly regarded? Supposedly they reproduce faster than other worms. But what good are they if you have to keep adding ...
compost quantity I have a 3-bin system, and turn the compost twice a year. The stuff is great, but pitifully inadequate in volume for the gardens I have. Everything goes ...
Fish Emulsion Alternative I live in an area highly populated with bears and am worried that if I use fish emulsion in my vegetable garden the aroma may invite a lot of company digging ...
compost in sun
Does the compost bin need to be in the sun ?
Doug says it helps but isn't necessary. Sunshine is one way to help keep the compost warm and working while ...
Trash barrel as compost bin? You have a metal compost bin pictured at the top of this page. I've seen smaller sized compost bins at very expensive prices, all made of plastic. Is there ...
Need advice on renewing soil My semi-formal flower garden has been ignored the past several years due to a heavy work load; but I retired this past year and look forward to renewing ...
Composting Maple Leaves with Black Spot
Hi,
In your last newsletter you wrote about the benefits of composting leaves. I have access to a lot of leaves in my area but many of the leaves are ...
mushroom compost My husband purchased mushroom compost to use in our flower beds. Our property slopes down into our neighbors lawn. Our neighbor is now getting mushrooms ...
Wood Compost I have a lot of rich compost from the top layers from a woods that is being worked on. My plants are already put into the ground. Could I put compost ...
Is there a smell with this?
If you compost , does it stink?
Every summer my neighbour does this compost thing, and wow does it ever sink, so much that I can not open my bedroom ...
compost tea in late fall
Should compost tea be brewed and sprayed on the garden until freeze-up in the fall?
Doug says that in practical terms, I don't. When the garden starts ...
turning the compost
If the compost is 4x4x4 in size do you turn this over and if you do how do you do this. It seems like a lot of work to me.
Doug says it is a lot of ...
Compost Pile Not Heating Up
Hi
If you have a compost box and put garden waste in it over a period of time, how do you get it to heat up. I am a member of a community garden. We have ...
compost and cat litter
can i put cat litter/waste into compost? i use a litter that's 100% corn, no clay or additives.
Doug says NO. Cat and dog excretia do not belong in ...
woodchips I just had 2 tree stumps ground, maple and box elder. The woodchips are pretty chopped up and do contain some soil I was told I could not use these on ...
mushrooms growing in my composter
should I take out mushrooms that have started growing in my composter
Doug says you obviously don't have a fast or hot compost going there. :-) Take ...
Seaweeds
I live on Miscou Island N.B.we have a lot of Seaweeds
how can I make compost with this
Thanks
Lincoln
Doug says - treat it like any other green matter....
