As explained in our in-depth article How To Compost at Home and Why It's Beneficial, green material typically makes up most of the average household's yard and garden waste. Yard and garden debris is easy to compost, except for woody branches, but green and brown inputs need to be balanced.
Here are some helpful composting tips to keep everything in your compost pile in balance:
- Green matter, such as grass or clover clippings and any legume debris, is nitrogen-rich. Brown matter, such as dry fallen leaves and chopped straw or hay, is carbon-rich. Mix these in a ratio of 2:1, green to brown, for a well-balanced compost pile.
- Woody material doesn't break down easily and the carbon/nitrogen ratio can be as high as 700:1. Strip leaves from branches and compost. Chip or shred woody material to use for paths or easements.
- Do not compost diseased or infested foliage. It's best to burn it if you can. Otherwise bag (NF129) for pick up or to take to a landfill.
- Don't compost pernicious weeds/grasses such as field morning glory, buttercups, Bermuda or crab- grass, oxalis, etc.
- Mow or shred large quantities of leaves to speed up decomposition and use ¼ the space.
- In the fall, use a thick layer of leaves as mulch around plants or over bulbs and tubers to protect them from freeze and to amend the soil.
- Put a thick layer of coarse brown material at the bottom of the bin or new pile to allow for aeration.
- Drying out grass clippings for a couple days before composting helps cut down on odor.
- Turn piles that are heavy with grass clippings every few days to speed up decomposition and bring air into matted, smelly patches.
- Test compost for moisture content: If you can squeeze one drop of water out of a handful of working compost, it has the ideal moisture level. Micro-nutrients require 45-50% moisture to stay alive.