Quick & Easy Guide to Composting

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&Quick Easy

what tocompost

how to maintain& use yourcompost

why you should compostthe science of composting

plus,3 easy &

attractive projects

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

GUIDE TO COMPOSTING

bonnieplants.com

2 | DIY Projects bonnieplants.com

3 | DIY Projectsbonnieplants.com

Project: Hog Wire Circle

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“The best thing about composting is you can make something highly useful out of materials that would have otherwise been tossed in a trash bin.”

-P. Allen SmithTV Host, Author & Lifestyle Expert

Why You Should Compost and How it Works

> TABLE OF CONTENTS <

4

The Science of Composting

6What to Compost5

Project: Key Hole Garden

Maintaining and Using Compost

8

10

Project: Compost Corral

12

Store-Bought Bins15

eMagazine/eCatalog published by Hortus Ltd./ A P. Allen Smith Company. Content, images and videos are designed, produced and owned by Hortus.

4 | Composting bonnieplants.com

Why you Should COMPOST AND HOW IT WORKS

SOIL BENEFITSAdding compost to your garden is a sure-fire way to help plants thrive. It supplies nutrients that are vital to plant growth and even releases them at the rate at which your plants need them. Thanks to its natural ingredients and evolution, compost can also increase your soil’s ability to retain water. Finally, all the while compost is building a better soil structure by binding with the particles that are present in your existing soil to improve waterways, drainage and air flow.

TRASH TURNED TO TREASUREMost of the matter—leaves, vegetable scraps and coffee grounds—was going to be tossed in a trash bin, so you’re actually turning trash into something useful. In fact, many gardeners refer to compost as “black gold.”

HANDS-ON BENEFITSPlus, creating your own compost pile can offer you a sense of accomplish-ment and pride. Not only were you able to grow your plants and vegetables, but the compost you made helps them thrive!

5 | Compostingbonnieplants.com

Follow this brown plus green recipe for impressive results.

The best way to achieve results with composting is to look at the formula in terms of color—green and brown to be specific. You want your compost pile to be layered in a mix of one part green to three parts brown. The GREEN materials are high in nitrogen, and the BROWN matter is high in carbon—both ideal for creating fertile soil.

What to CompoSt

Almost anything that came from or is a plant can be added to your compost pile. Wet yard waste with a hose or dunk in a rain barrel before adding to the pile to help accelerate the composting process.

Goo

d to Know

DO DON’TWHAT TO ADD TO YOUR PILE

LeavesWithered flower arrangements

nitrogen carbon

StrawSoiled paper napkins

Kitchen trimmings Eggshells

Old plants Coffee grounds

Grass clippings Newspaper

Large sticks Meats

Pet manure

Cooked food

Diseased plant material

Greasy foods

Weeds Meat or Dairy


hoW It WORKS: thE sciEncE of composting

Brown Matter (Leaves, Straw)

Green Matter (Grass clippings, Plant scraps,Kitchen scraps)

Water Air

Macroorganisms(Worms and Insects)

Microorganisms(Bacteria and Fungi)

+ +Compost

+ ++

=

Compost is made up of all-natural, organic materials—many of which you can find in your own backyard. So, the question is, how do they combine to create this powerful soil booster?

How it Works


Step 1: MIXINGMatter is added to the pile. Heat from the environment and microorganisms begin the aerobic process. During this phase, temperatures are moderate.

Step 2: HEATING UPOriginal matter starts to become unrecognizable as the mixture continues to “cook” in the heat and is broken down into less complex compounds. Temperatures are at their highest during this phase.

Step 3: COOLING DOWNMicroorganisms are still active in the mixture, but all pieces of matter have been successfully broken down. The mixture cools during this time.

Step 4: CURINGThis is the longest and, perhaps, most important stage of composting. Typically lasting two to three months, this process makes the compost more effective for use on plants. Your compost will have a crumbly texture and a rich, earthy smell when it’s ready for use.

Depending on the temperature and conditions, your compost could be ready in as little as a few weeks or it could take months. Compost matures more quickly in warm summer temperatures, but can require nine months to a full year to break down in cooler conditions. There are several other variables that can speed up or slow the composting process. Read about the various methods that affect composting on BonniePlants.com.

Learn more about this process on the following pages.

Speed up your composting time by chopping up all the materials you put into your pile.

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How it Works

Mixing HeatingUp

Curing CoolingDown


&maIntanIng USINGCOMPOST

Keep your compost pile warm in the winter by covering it with a tarp. Another great tip is to add alfalfa pellets (rabbit food) when you are short on green materials.

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MAINTAINWhen it comes to keeping a healthy compost pile there are three things you need to do:

1. Add materials. This refers to the brown and green matter discussed on the previous page.

2. Add water. Like all living things compost needs water. If Mother Nature does not provide enough rain, you will need to add water using a garden hose or even soaker hoses. Your compost should be moist but not sopping wet.

3. Turn the pile. The process can be speeded along with frequent turning of the pile. Invest in a good pitchfork or, if you are purchasing a composter, consider a tumbler option to keep the compost well mixed.

WHEN TO USEBecause compost times can vary greatly, it’s important to watch for the signs of a finished product. After the curing phase (when all mat-ter is broken down), compost will be ready for use when it has a crumbly texture and a rich, earthy smell. To free up space in small bins or composters you can remove the compost from your bin and store in a large garbage can (with holes drilled for air flow) with a lid for a period of two to three months. If you are composting in a pile, take compost from the bottom and you can keep adding to the top.

HOW TO USEThe most common way gardeners use compost is to enrich their garden soil. Spread about 2 inches of compost over the planting area and work it into the soil roughly 6 inches deep. Left on top of the soil, compost makes a great mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Adding compost to your garden beds just once or twice per year can dramatically improve the look and health of your plants.


KEYHOLE GARDENCreate a compost-friendly garden where the soil naturally replenishes itself.

MATERIALS NEEDED:• tape measure• large-scale compass• marking flags or paint• cinder blocks, natural rock or clay pavers (We used 420 clay pavers for our garden. The dimesions of your garden and buiding materials will determine the quanity you need.)• hog wire• wire cutters• cardboard• scissors• garden soil• brown and green compostable materials• water• twine or steel wire• vegetable plants

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS1. Measure a 6-foot in diameter circle and mark it with flags or marking paint.2. Use flags or paint to mark a wedge area, much like cutting a slice out of a whole pie, for easy access to compost bin.3. Following the circle pattern you marked, use the natural rock or cinder blocks to build an exterior wall approximately 3 feet high. You do not need anything to hold the rocks or cinder blocks together, just make sure if you are using rocks that they are flat and can lay snugly on top of each other.4. Line the interior surface of the garden walls with cardboard.

5. To make the composting basket, roll the hog wire into a cylinder approximately 1-foot in diameter and 4 feet tall. Secure with twine to hold the circular shape. Stand the basket in the center of the garden. Fill with alternat ing layers of compostable materials, and spray water on each layer to make the pile damp but not soggy.6. Add 2 feet of compostable materials to the garden bed, making sure to wet the materials down as you go. Fill the last 6–10 inches with garden soil. 7. Once you have the garden soil down, plant your favorite vegetables and herbs.


allen prepareS HIS HOT CHOCOLATERECIPE

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Keeping some kind of tarp or loose lid on the compost basket will retain heat and reduce evaporation, helping to promote the composting process.

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CompoSt CORRALCreate a simple, rustic-style compost bin with minimal materials.

Do you remember playing with Lincoln Logs as a child? That is the best way to think of building this compost bin. Each piece is connected to another to make a stacked finished result.

MATERIALS NEEDED:• (16) 8-foot-long landscape timbers• 4 concrete blocks• 4 concrete reinforcement bars, 5/8-inch diameter and 2 feet long• drill • 11/16” drill bit

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS1. Begin by creating an 8-foot square (this distance is the same as the length of the timbers) with one of the con crete blocks serving as an anchor or post at each of the four corners. The blocks elevate the corral so you can remove the finished compost from the bottom.2. Take two of the landscape timbers and drill a hole half way through on one side at each end. These will be the bottom rungs of the corral and will serve as a base for holding the concrete reinforcing rod. For the rest of the timbers, drill the hole all the way through. 3. Set the two “base” timbers on the concrete blocks with the holes facing up, then stack two more timbers on top of these to create a square. 4. Now align the holes in the top two timbers with the half holes in the bottom two timbers and insert your concrete reinforcing rods, which will connect the four timbers.5. To complete the corral just stack the remaining timbers one on top of another over each rod. Stacking the timbers like this will create air spaces, which are important for decomposition.

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You can easily adjust the size of this compost bin to suit a small space by using shorter landscape timbers.

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WIre BInHOG

MATERIALS NEEDED:• measuring tape• marking paint• shovel• hog wire (3 to 4 feet tall and 7 feet long)• steel wire or twine• landscape pins

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS1. Start by using a measuring tape to mark a circle about 3-feet in diameter. Outline the circle using marking paint.2. Follow the marked area and dig a small trench, about 1–2 inches deep. This is to help the hog wire stay in place.3. Use the hog wire piece to form a tube about 3-feet in diameter, and place it in the trench. Then attach the ends of the tube to one another using pieces of steel wire or twine to help it hold the circular shape. Secure the base of the tube to the ground using landscape pins.4. Now fill in the trench with dirt to keep the bin in place and prevent it from tipping over. When you finish securing it into place, your bin is ready for compostable materials.

This easy-to-make wire bin is ideal for both first-time and seasoned composters alike.

This is a great bin that can be placed in a raised bed. Once the compost is ready, just remove the wire cage and spread.

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Store-BoughtBInS

If a pre-made composter is the best solution for you, there are several types to consider. Here’s the 411 on a few popular styles.

TUMBLING COMPOST BINA rotating bin makes turning your compost simple.

DUAL COMPOSTER Eliminate the wait between batch-es with a dual-bin composter that allows you to start new mixtures in separate bins, meaning each can be on its own schedule.

WIRE COMPOST BINLightweight and com-pact, a pre-assembled version of a traditional DIY wire bin is a great alternative when time is at a premium.

SOLID-WOOD SLATTED BINPre-fab bins made with cedar slats are attractive enough to place anywhere.

KITCHEN COUNTER PAILLeak-proof and odor-free, a mini canister for under the kitchen sink is the perfect way to contain kitchen scraps before transporting them out to your compost pile.

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Quick & Easy Guide to Composting

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