Create compost »Location, compostables and more

the essentials in brief

• The compost should not be in the sun; partially shaded to shady locations are ideal
• Cooked food, meat and fish, cat and dog droppings, weeds and the remains of diseased plants have no place on the compost
• Wet waste like fruit and vegetable waste should be layered with dry waste like leaves or lawn clippings
• A multi-chamber compost, the chambers of which are in different compost stages, is particularly functional - also for the balcony

Choose location wisely

The ideal location for the composting area is partially to shady and surrounded by air. The framework conditions are perfect under the canopy of mighty trees. In the damp, cool wood shade, organic waste does not dry out as quickly as in a fully sunny location. Open ground is important as the subsurface. Excess water can seep away and hard-working soil organisms can get into it. For this reason, sealed surfaces are taboo.

So that enough oxygen can get to the compost in the airy location, please ensure that there are wide air slots in the side walls of the containers.

A compost heap needs to get enough air

When is the best season?

A new Create compost You can basically at any time, as long as it is not freezing or rain is prevailing. The best time of year to tackle the project is in spring. Rising temperatures call the indispensable soil organisms, which are responsible for the decomposition process, on the scene. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the rotting process with temperatures of up to 70 degrees if the difference to the outside temperatures is as small as possible.

Create new compost - step-by-step instructions

The classic compost gets by with one container to start with. Traditionally it is a simple silo made of wooden slats or Wire mesh,(€ 17.32 at Amazon *) where you can collect the organic waste. The option of adding a second or third container to later hold semi-ripe or ripe compost is advantageous. How to properly create a new compost:

1. Lay wire mesh at the chosen location to protect against voles
2. Set up compost bin
3. As the first layer, distribute coarse material 15 to 20 cm high, for example a mix of wood and shrub cuttings
4. As a second layer, pile up shredded kitchen and garden waste 15 to 20 cm high
5. as a third layer 5 to 10 cm high humus garden soil or finished Compost soil to distribute
6. water with rainwater when it is dry
7. Fill compost heaps up to a maximum height of 120-150 cm with mixed waste

In the last step, equip each compost bin with a lid. Straw or reed mats are good and cheap. Optionally, you can protect a compost heap with a breathable compost fleece against continuous rain, snow and cold.

Layering compost correctly - tips & tricks

A wide range of organic waste is suitable for composting. The more colorful the mixture, the higher the quality of the end product. You can take advantage of the different structure and texture of garden and kitchen waste by layering and mixing the materials properly. The following examples illustrate the principle:

• Wet and dry: Lawn clippings and autumn leaves
• Thick and loose: Banana peels and cleaned, withered flowers
• High and low nitrogen: Coffee grounds, tea filters and shrub pruning

Every now and then, add a thin layer of good garden soil or ready-made compost soil to inoculate the compost heap with additional microorganisms. A handful counteracts unpleasant smells Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) true miracles.

When it comes to compost, it comes down to the right layers

The three-chamber principle is the trump card

Compost experts advocate the three-chamber principle. All suitable waste is collected and mixed in the first container. The first rotting phase is taking place next door. In the third chamber, half-finished compost decomposes completely and makes itself garden-ready. Do you have the finished one humus Consumed in the garden, put the contents of the second chamber there. The contents of the first container move to chamber number two, freeing up space for fresh waste.

When you start a new compost, the three-chamber principle gives you the first premium quality compost after about nine months. Once this cycle is set in motion, the waiting time is shortened to six to seven months in the following years. The most important premise is a maximum capacity of one cubic meter per chamber.

Digression

Create a new lawn with compost

Special forms of rapid composter and thermal composter

The low volume of waste in the garden and kitchen brings two special forms of composting into focus. If only a small amount of compost is to be cultivated, investing in a high-speed composter becomes interesting. The specialist trade offers these small compost silos in the form of closed containers with lids. Microorganisms and can get through holes and slits in the bottom Compost worms Access. An open floor, a good mix of different materials and regular ventilation are important for smooth rotting.

A fast composter has to stand directly on the ground

Thermal composters have emerged from the rapid composter. The inside of the containers are additionally lined with heat-insulating material in order to keep the temperatures at an ideal level for rotting organisms. A thermal composter also boosts self-heating when the material volume is actually insufficient.

If you want to create compost in the garden with children, quick and thermal composters are perfect. The barrel is filled in one go, poured over with nettle stock and with Stone meal sprinkled. Regular turning with the hand crank ensures that the materials are mixed and that the air is supplied. Live and within a short time, children experience the basics of a functioning, natural cycle, in the spirit of permaculture.

What goes on the compost - what doesn't?

When you create your own compost, organic waste from the kitchen and garden turns into nutrient-rich humus. The goal is of course a long way off if you dispose of rubbish indiscriminately in the composting area. You should generally dispose of some substances with household waste. The following table shows what is put on the compost and what is not:

Composting wood and wood ash is a double-edged sword. Only use both materials for the compost if you are sure that there are no toxic residues in them, such as heavy metals, pesticides or chemical glazes. Against this background, the peels of exotic citrus fruits are also better off with household waste because they have been treated with antifungal chemicals for the long transport routes. If toxins and chemicals creep in through this back door, there is no longer any question of organic compost.

Special case of horse manure

Horse manure is traditionally one of the most valuable natural fertilizers. Of course, horse manure only has the much-praised fertilizer value after a month-long decomposition process. Fresher Horse manure is therefore just as unsuitable for composting as the remains of dogs or cats. Rather, a separate composting area is to be created for horse manure, where the rotting takes place. Regular mixing ensures the necessary supply of oxygen. Furthermore, the rotting manure must not dry out. Layering up different materials, such as garden compost, is not necessary. After four to six months, horse manure has turned into valuable fertilizer.

Composting autumn leaves properly - tips & tricks

Fall foliage must be combined with wet waste

High fall foliage is often a headache for those new to composting. Throwing large amounts of autumn leaves on the compost heap torpedoes the basic rule of healthy mixing. How to manage your composting site in autumn with expertise:

• Throw autumn leaves on top of the compost in layers of 10 to 20 cm each
• as an intermediate layer of dried grass clippings or scarified ones moss scatter
• Horn meal Distribute thinly as an additional nitrogen supplier
• Scatter stone powder or bentonite to prevent unpleasant smells

If you create a new compost with large amounts of leaves in autumn, distribute some humus garden soil or mature garden compost between the layers. If walnut, oak, birch or chestnut leaves dominate, shred the leaves beforehand and mix them with dried lawn cuttings, stone flour or Horn shavings.(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) The reason for the intermediate step is a high proportion of tannic acid in the foliage of these tree species, which slows down the rotting process significantly. These concerns do not apply to the leaves of fruit trees, maple, ash, hornbeam or linden.

Put compost on the balcony - is that possible?

Balcony gardeners do not have to do without beneficial compost for ornamental and vegetable plants. One Worm fern serves as a substitute for the composting place in the garden. This is a wooden box with several chambers. Kitchen and plant waste is collected and inoculated with compost worms, which take care of the decomposition. It works that simple:

• 1. chamber: organic waste accumulates, consumed by compost worms and processed
• 2. chamber: central habitat and place of reproduction for compost worms
• 3. chamber: ready-made vermicompost for all balcony and house plants

Then there is a collecting container for rich worm tea in the lowest area. You can use the drain cock to draw off the natural liquid fertilizer to pamper your plants. One Worm farm is the ideal option if you want to compost with children in the city and without a garden.

Ingenious functional principle - simply explained

Mother nature provides the starting point for a natural fertilizer that you can produce yourself with little effort. Compost is rightly revered as black gardener's gold. The better amateur gardeners are familiar with the natural relationships, the more successfully they can create a compost themselves. The following overview briefly and succinctly summarizes the most important framework conditions relating to the functional principle of compost:

• definition: targeted nutrient cycle using organic material, air and soil organisms
• Start phase: 1.-8. Week self-heating to 35-70 ° inside by active fungus and bacteria
• Build-up phase: 8-12 weeks of gradual cooling, immigration of woodlice, ground beetles, compost worms, mites
• Maturity phase: from 12. Week immigration of earthworms and white grubs, successively digging into humus
• Assembly: Fine processing of finished compost soil by means of Sieving

While the compost heap goes through the various phases, the optimized supply of oxygen plays a key role. To do this, mix the material or move the pile. This guarantees that busy living beings will not run out of breath at work.

5 common mistakes

When gardeners create their own compost for the first time, a lack of experience harbors various errors. To save you from annoying miscalculations, the following table lists five common mistakes in the name with tips for prevention:

frequently asked Questions

Creating a vegetable patch with compost - how does it work?

When you create a new vegetable patch, compost makes a significant contribution to a nutrient-rich soil for healthy and vital growth. In this case, the motto is: Don't mess, but clunk. Spread out 15 to 20 liters of ripe, sifted compost per square meter of floor space. Work in the organic material on the surface with the rake. Let the soil rest for ten to fourteen days until the first vegetable crop is sown or planted.

Our compost does not rot - what to do?

Various causes can slow down the rotting process or bring it to a complete standstill. An effective method of accelerating decomposition is by increasing the worm population. You can buy and release live compost worms in specialist shops. It is also helpful to have a Compost accelerator sprinkle in powder form. It contains valuable bacteria and fungi that promote the fermentation process. Oscorna compost accelerators, Radivit compost accelerators from Neudorff or organic compost accelerators from Dehner achieve good results. The OBI compost accelerator is inexpensive and just as effective.

Creating Terra Preta compost - how does it work?

If you create a compost according to the terra preta concept, you are essentially following the guidelines for a traditional garden compost. In addition, add the organic waste Biochar or activated charcoal. This aggregate acts primarily as a compost accelerator. Furthermore, the special charcoal promotes aeration and oxygen supply, which also vitalizes soil organisms. Last but not least, the powder binds many nutrients and prevents premature washing out by rain. Sprinkle a handful of activated or biochar over each layer. You can buy these in specialist shops or make them yourself.

Tips

Life pulsates in every handful of ripe compost. You hold more living beings in your hand than people live on earth. In the start-up phase, it is invisible fungi and bacteria. With bare eye Immigrated woodlice, ground beetles and red dung worms can be seen. Lastly, thick cockchaferGrubs, useful rose chafer grubs and hardworking earthworms.