With the arrival of spring, many gardeners are looking to obtain high-quality compost to feed their soil and their plantings. If you want to have exceptional compost, follow these 7 indispensable tips:
1. Choosing the right location for your composter
To succeed with your compost, it is essential to carefully choose the location of your composting device. Ideally, the area should be shaded, slightly damp and protected from the wind. In this way, the decomposition of organic materials will be more efficient and faster.
2. Balancing the Intake of Green and Brown Matter
A good compost should be composed of a balanced mix of nitrogenous materials (greens) and carbonaceous materials (browns). The nitrogenous materials, such as lawn clippings or fruit and vegetable peels, help promote the microbial activity needed for the transformation into humus. The carbonaceous materials, such as dead leaves or twigs, ensure a good aeration of the pile and prevents it from becoming too compact.
Here are some examples of green and brown materials:
- Green materials : lawn clippings, vegetable and fruit peelings, faded flowers, end-of-life plants
- Brown materials: dead leaves, small branches, straw, non-printed cardboard, crushed eggshells
3. Maintain an ideal size for your compost
For the degradation of organic materials to proceed properly, it is recommended to have a volume of compost between 1 and 1.5 cubic meters. This will allow good aeration of the heap, as well as a regular and sufficient heat supply.
4. Regularly aerate the compost heap
One of the main issues encountered in composting is the lack of aeration. To prevent this, consider regularly turning and mixing your compost pile with a fork or a similar tool. This operation allows for a uniform distribution of air and heat within the pile, which greatly contributes to the final quality of the compost.
5. Keep the compost moist without excess
The humidity level must be maintained to ensure good decomposition of woody materials. An ideal humidity level will be that of a well wrung-out sponge: sufficiently wet but not dripping with water. If you find your compost is too dry, do not hesitate to add water. On the contrary, if your pile is too wet, add brown materials to absorb the excess water.
To check the moisture of the compost:
- Take a small handful of this and squeeze it between your hands
- If a few drops of water escape, the humidity level is ideal
- If no drop comes out, you need to add a little water
- On the other hand, if a trickle of water flows, add brown materials to absorb the excess water
6. Ensure good decomposition with microorganisms
Microorganisms are essential for the transformation of organic waste into humus. You can promote their multiplication by adding natural “activators” to your compost, such as:
- Fresh or already composted manure
- Roasted horn powder
- Nettle manure
- Substances rich in nitrogen
These activators will speed up the decomposition of ligneous materials and you will get higher quality compost more quickly.
7. Use the Correct Waste Ratio
It is recommended to have one third of green material for two thirds of brown material by volume. This ratio ensures a good balance between nitrogen and carbon, thereby promoting the decomposition of organic matter and the production of humus. Also, be careful not to include incompatible waste, such as dairy products, leftover meat or non-biodegradable items.
By following these tips, you can produce a nutrient-rich compost for the upcoming spring. This will contribute to better growth of your plantations, while also being an environmentally friendly action beneficial to the environment.