Making good compost for the garden is almost like a science in its own right. Proper compost management ensures that the waste rots properly and turns into nutrient-rich soil. An important part of compost management is choosing the right compost material. What belongs on the compost and what doesn’t belong in a free PDF list that can be hung up next to the composting area.
Layering
As a rule, everything that comes out of the garden can go straight back into the compost. This is especially true for the weeds that are weeded out. But dead plant material is also ideal for compost. Above all, the mixture of fresh and dead material ensures a balanced compost and also promotes rapid rotting.
The ideal layering looks like this:
- Garden waste
- small cut branches
- Garden soil
The three layers alternate evenly until the compost heap has reached the desired height. Finally, a thick layer of garden soil is given over it. This provides a seal and prevents the compost from drying out. This would slow down composting. Once the compost heap is closed, no new material should be placed on it.
Garden waste
Gardening produces a lot of compostable material. However, not every material can be placed on it without hesitation
will. Weeded plants should have as little soil as possible on their roots. If branches are placed on the compost heap, they should be chopped up. This also applies to coarse material such as cabbage stalks. Smaller material composts faster and when the pile is opened, coarse parts of the plant do not have to be laboriously sorted out.
Caution is advised when cutting the lawn. This should only be added gradually to the compost. If the lawn layer is too thick, it will not compost but ferment. While this does not harm the microorganisms, it is not the goal of composting. During fermentation, the material is mainly liquefied instead of being converted into soil. Lawn clippings should therefore always be placed on the compost heap in smaller quantities or slightly wilted.
Tip: Lawn clippings are very suitable for mulching and therefore do not necessarily have to be placed on the compost.
Leaves can also be problematic on the compost. Above all, leaves that are difficult to rot, such as walnut, should only be added to the compost in small amounts. However, some garden plants, such as the hydrangea, love compost from leaves. If there are many deciduous trees in the garden, it is a good idea to create a separate compost heap for the foliage to use for those plants that like acidic soil
supply.No sick parts of the plant
Under no circumstances do plant parts belong on the compost that have to be removed due to pests or diseases. When composting pests and pathogens or Mushrooms not destroyed. They get back to the plants through the compost soil and can trigger renewed infestation.
Such plant parts are sorted out and disposed of in the residual waste. This is burned, which prevents it from spreading. Diseased parts of the plant should not be put in the organic waste either is composted and so pests and diseases can be returned to the garden via potting soil got.
Leftovers
Leftovers on the compost are a sensitive issue. They can attract unwanted visitors like rats. Therefore, when it comes to food leftovers, it is important not only to differentiate which leftovers it is, but also to throw them sparingly on the compost. Eggshells or bread can be composted without hesitation. The leftovers from lettuce or cooked vegetables are also suitable for the compost. Noodles can also be composted to a limited extent. However, what does not belong on the compost are meat or Bone remnants. These are guaranteed to attract rats, which then often even build their homes in the compost.
Purchased plants
Dried up cut flowers, potted plants that have died quickly, they often end up on the compost. They are not a problem as long as they are organic plants. Conventional cut flowers or potted plants are often contaminated with pesticides and should therefore be better disposed of.
Animal litter
When it comes to animal litter, opinions differ as to whether it belongs on the compost. In principle, faeces, regardless of whether they are animals or humans, have nothing to look for on the compost. However, litter for small animals can be used to a limited extent. The following animal litter can be composted:
- underlying paper
- Sawdust
- Straw / hay
- Wood chips
Under no circumstances should animal litter in the form of granules be put on the compost heap. Included
it is not a biological material that quickly composts. In addition, these granules are often treated with chemicals so that the smell is bound. For health reasons, no feces from dogs or cats should end up on the compost. Both animals can act as intermediate hosts for diseases, which in turn can be transmitted to humans.Good mixture
It is especially important to mix material that is not likely to wander on the compost, with any material that is safe. However, since suitable material is not always available or a certain material is only available at certain points, it is often not enough to just create a compost heap. This means that even larger quantities of difficult materials can be composted. Material such as eggshells or branches or Leaves can also be collected in advance and then mixed into the compost when needed. Above all, branches and leaves should be collected separately, as they ensure that the pile remains loose and that it is ventilated.
Compost acceleration material
So that the compost develops well or If the process is even accelerated, different materials can be mixed in. Yeast water with sugar, for example, can be used as a compost starter. This means that useful fungi get into the compost material. Stone meal also helps with composting and later ensures a balanced ratio of minerals. In addition, the rock flour binds unpleasant odors. Herbs can also have a positive effect on the quality of the compost. What many call weeds, however, provides an extra boost of nutrients when composting. Ideal herbs for the compost are:
- Nettle
- Comfrey
- yarrow
- Horsetail
The herbs are roughly chopped up and then added to the compost in layers.
