How to make your own compost for the summer garden

How to make your own compost to help keep your garden soil healthy and fertile

Posted by Kevin Quinlan ADD COMMENTS

The reasons to create your own compost are various. From reducing landfills, saving money and providing nutrients to your garden are just a few reasons why you should start your own compost this year and help the environment and your wallet out. There are really no reasons why you shouldn’t do it actually. You need to throw this stuff out or do something with it, so why not put it to work in a positive way?

To create your own open air compost outside you will need the following materials. Wood, hammer, nails and of course, a shovel. The exact measurements of the wood depend on how much room you want to take up with it. If you have a large garden, create a large compost, etc.

Build your compost early in the spring and select a location that is level, well drained and is somewhat private. It also should be a location that is not in direct sun (you don’t want it too hot) but not cool areas either (you don’t want it not warm). To build, create your box with wood and nails being sure to leave room for the compost to breath at the various heights that you build it. That is all it takes. It is a simple box to keep your compost in one location and allowing it to break down in a secluded location.

Once built, start throwing in your food scraps, paper materials and yard trimmings. A good rule of thumb is for every 2 brown items you put in (carbon) be sure to put in one green item (nitrogen) to ensure your compost has a healthy mixture of nutrients.

As you add items to your compost something’s to keep in mind is that you want to moisten any dry material you add to the pile. Also use your shovel to occasionally turn over the compost; you should also use your shovel to bury fruit, vegetables and other food a few inches below the surface. You want to keep the compost wet, if it gets too dry it will slow the process.

After a few weeks to a month you can begin to use your compost pile (take from the bottom first) as a soil add in, mulch, or a potting mixture.