Some folks think composting is too tricky, smelly, and messy. Sure, it can be if done wrong, but getting it right is actually pretty easy! All you need are a few layers of organic materials and kitchen scraps, a sprinkle of soil, and a splash of water. Then, just wait for it to transform into humus, the ultimate soil booster! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to compost successfully.

Types of Composting

Before diving into the how-to of composting, it’s helpful to know that there are a few different types:

Cold Composting

Turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into rich, natural fertilizer with cold composting—nature’s way of recycling at its own pace, perfect for busy gardeners looking for a low-maintenance, eco-friendly solution. Garden cold composting from @ bennettcompost

This is the easy route. Just gather yard waste and organic kitchen scraps (like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells) into a pile or bin. Over about a year, it’ll naturally break down into compost.

Hot Composting

Transform organic waste into nutrient-rich compost quickly with hot composting—harnessing high temperatures for faster decomposition and a thriving garden in no time. Compost pile from @ tadmuck

This method is more hands-on but much quicker. By actively managing your compost pile, you can get compost in just one to three months during warm weather. You’ll need four key ingredients: nitrogen, carbon, air, and water. These elements feed the microorganisms that speed up decomposition. During the growing season, you can keep mixing new batches while the old ones “cook.”

Vermicomposting

Harness the power of worms with vermicomposting—transforming food scraps into rich, organic fertilizer that boosts plant health and enriches your garden soil sustainably. Cold season vermicomposting from @ jasminesinthegarden_

This technique uses earthworms, specifically red wigglers, to turn your food scraps into rich, nitrogen-packed compost. As the worms eat your leftovers, they produce castings that make fantastic compost. You can easily buy these special worms online or from garden suppliers.

What to Compost

Composting at home is a fantastic way to make use of those forgotten items in your fridge and reduce food waste. Plus, you can compost certain yard waste instead of sending it to the landfill. To kick off your compost pile the right way, gather these materials:

Compost adds valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil, improving its structure, water retention, and fertility, which promotes healthier plant growth. Backyard compost from @ hsvgarden

• Fruit scraps
• Vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells (they take a bit longer to break down)
• Grass and plant clippings
• Dry leaves
• Finely chopped wood and bark chips
• Shredded newspaper
• Straw
• Sawdust from untreated wood

Keeping a container in your kitchen makes it super easy to collect composting materials while you prepare meals. You don’t need to buy one; you can easily make your own compost bin for indoors or outdoors. For kitchen scraps that might spoil quickly, try storing them in the freezer until you’re ready to add them to your larger outdoor compost pile. This way, you’ll always have a steady supply of compostable materials without any mess or bad smells!

How to Create Hot Compost

1. Combine Green and Brown Materials

To make your own hot compost heap, wait until you have enough materials to build a pile at least 3 feet deep, combining wet (green) items and dry (brown) items.

Balance your compost pile with a mix of brown materials like dry leaves and green materials like kitchen scraps for optimal decomposition. Compost from @ ibrecycles

• Brown materials: These add carbon and include dried plant materials, fallen leaves, shredded branches, cardboard, newspaper, hay, straw, and wood shavings.
• Green materials: These add nitrogen and include kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, animal manures (not from dogs or cats), and fresh plant and grass trimmings.

For best results, mix three parts brown materials with one part green materials. If your compost pile becomes too wet and starts to smell, add more brown items or aerate it with a garden fork. If it looks too brown and dry, add green items and water to make it slightly moist.

2. Water it!

Regularly sprinkle water over the compost pile to keep it as moist as a damp sponge. Avoid adding too much water, as the microorganisms will become waterlogged and drown, causing the pile to rot instead of compost. To ensure the materials are decomposing properly, you can use a compost thermometer to monitor the temperature. Alternatively, you can reach into the middle of the pile with your hand; it should feel warm to the touch.

3. Stir The Compost Pile

Regularly stirring the compost pile is crucial for aeration, which accelerates decomposition and helps produce rich, healthy compost. Stirring compost from @ residentsforward

During the growing season, make sure to give your compost pile some oxygen by turning it once a week with a garden fork or other garden tools. The best time to turn the compost is when the center of the pile feels warm or when a thermometer reads between 130°F and 150°F. Turning the compost will help it decompose faster and prevent it from becoming matted and smelly. By now, the brown and green layers have done their job, so it’s fine to mix everything together thoroughly.

4. Nourish Your Garden with Compost

Composting is a practical, environmentally-friendly practice that supports sustainable living and contributes to a healthier planet. Gardening tips from @ growarber

When your compost pile stops emitting heat and transforms into a dry, brown, and crumbly texture, it’s fully matured and ready to enrich your garden. Spread approximately 4 to 6 inches of compost over your flower beds and apply a thick layer to the top of pots at the start of each planting season.

Additionally, some gardeners opt to create compost tea using matured compost. This process entails allowing fully developed compost to soak in water for several days, then straining it to produce a homemade liquid fertilizer.