MANHATTAN, Kan. – Not much in life is free, but compost can be.
Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said composting at home provides gardeners with a free source of nutrient-rich soil. But there are some best practices to make sure it’s a valuable resource.
“Knowing what is in your compost is a great way to ensure you are not introducing problems into the garden,” Domenghini said.
She offers these tips when building a compost pile:
Turn the pile at least once a month to rotate materials from the center and promote decomposition. The pile will heat up as it decomposes, and cool as decomposition slows.
Create a depression in the top of the pile to allow water to collect and slowly seep through the layers of the mound.
When deciding where to establish a compost pile, look for a water source. Water is essential for efficient decomposition. Close proximity to supplemental water will allow you to keep the pile moist even during periods of drought.
Smaller materials decompose faster. When possible, shred materials before adding them to the heap, especially ‘brown’ material such as dry leaves and twigs.
Fats and meats should not be added to the compost heap. They attract wildlife.
Grass clippings from a lawn treated with crabgrass killer should not be composted. If crabgrass preventer or dandelion killer has been used on the lawn, the clippings can be composted only after three mowings.
Only add fresh plant material that is disease-free.
Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.
Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions to Domenghini at [email protected], or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
— Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service
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