Creating Your Own Compost
Mature compost stands as the epitome of eco-friendly fertilizer. In this guide, we’ll outline key considerations for setting up your compost and share tips to enhance the quality of your finished compost!
Compost embodies the essence of organic fertilizer: its microfauna activates soil life, humus improves the earth’s air and water balance, and nutrients nourish plants optimally. Explore our tips for excellent compost and the steps to establish your compost.
The Correct Compost Mix
As a general rule, anything organic can go into the compost, except for cooked food scraps, meat, and bones—these could attract pests. Shred shrub trimmings and plant residues, mix them with grass clippings, vegetable scraps, old flowers, weeds, fruit remnants, aged potting soil, and coffee grounds.
Interestingly, the leaves of some trees decompose slowly and might not be ideal for compost. Learn more about handling garden leaf disposal here.
Pay attention to the balance between Carbon (C) and Nitrogen (N) when creating your compost, as it ensures effective decomposition. Woodchip masses from tree pruning or fallen leaves are rich in carbon, but bacteria require ample nitrogen for reproduction. Therefore, sprinkle a handful of horn meal or horn shavings* on every 30-centimeter thick layer.
The Best Location for a Compost
Compost thrives best in the shade of trees. Typically, you can set up the compost at the end of your property—easily accessible yet providing enough space for turning and sieving. Privet hedges offer fast-growing privacy towards the house and terrace.
Composting Weeds with Black Plastic
Weeds are a common occurrence in any garden. The advice often given is not to dispose of these plants in the compost, where they could develop new roots or scatter seeds, leading to a resurgence in the garden. However, there’s a trick to compost even stubborn weeds:
Pile up the compost in the sun and cover it with black plastic during the summer months—weed seeds and root remnants will perish in the heat.
Read more about the advantages of creating your own Compost
Start a Compost - Step by Step
If you’re new to composting, a commercially available compost starter can be beneficial. Often offered as granules, it activates microorganisms and promotes the decomposition process.
In case your compost is getting too full and needs a boost, you can make your own compost accelerator.
- Dissolve a cube of fresh yeast and approximately 750 grams of sugar in a saucepan with lukewarm water.
- Dilute the mixture with enough water to end up with 10 liters of compost accelerator.
- Pour the mixture into a watering can and let it stand for 2 hours.
- Evenly distribute the mixture on the compost pile.
If you already have compost, you can use ready-made compost as a compost accelerator*: Simply sprinkle about 1 centimeter thick layer of finished compost over every 30-centimeter thick new layer. This inoculates the layer with the necessary bacteria, accelerating the crucial decomposition process.
Create Your Own Compost Bin
Compost bins made from treated softwood or woven willow or hazel can be created in attractive shapes. A classic choice is a 3-part masonry structure made of bricks. Every three months, shovel the compost into the next section, speeding up decomposition, and maintaining order. Learn how to build your own compost sieve here.
Proper Fertilization with Compost
Mature compost is gentle and won’t scorch perennials, vegetables, or roses, unlike chemical fertilizers. When finely sifted, consider applying one bucket per square meter of garden.
Thermocomposting for Efficient Decomposition
Insulated compost containers made of plastic ensure the decomposition process even on cold days. In just a few months, you can extract finished humus through the large bottom flap. However, on large properties or with tall trees, they may quickly reach their capacity limits.