Tips from K-State Research and Extension to start a compost this fall
What is compost? Think of it as nature’s recycling: a mix of rotted and decomposed materials, which is transformed into nutrient-rich organic matter for your soil.
Start a compost, and your plants will thank you! Adding compost to your soil during the fall can greatly improve its health come springtime. But there are some important things to know before you kick off your fall compost collection.
Johnson County’s K-State Research and Extension has a guide to all things composting, including what to add to your pile and where to store it.
Getting Your Compost Started
You can start your own fall compost at home by collecting discarded “greens” and “browns.” Greens provide nitrogen, while the browns provide carbon – both necessary to the decomposition of your material.
A compost recipe can include these green and brown ingredients, as well as pumpkins and gourds from your fall celebrations:
- Greens: grass clippings, lawn and garden weeds, fruit and vegetable scraps, flowers, coffee grounds, farm animal manure, hair
- Browns: Leaves, straw, paper, branches and twigs, sawdust, pine needles, nut shells, dryer lint
Stick to those items, and avoid pet waste, meat and animal products, grease and oils, or dairy products. When starting your pile, think of your compost as lasagna: layer them on, alternating greens, browns and a layer of soil. Add some water as well, as this will keep the material moist (don’t make it too soggy).
Turn your compost every 2-4 weeks to keep it “hot” – that is, optimized for quicker results. Your compost pile should be around 27 cubic feet, or three feet by three feet by three feet, as this is the best size for it to heat up and turn.
What to Do with Your Compost
The Demonstration Garden next to the Sunset Drive Office Building offers a compost collection site open to the public.
You can collect your compost in a pile or a bin, using plastic, chicken wire, wooden pallets or another material. It’ll be ready to use once it becomes a dark brown, soil-like substance.
A compost can be ready to use anywhere between a few months and a year. Keep your pile “hot,” and you’ll be able to use it before winter hits. You can use your compost as a soil amendment or mulch, or you can sprinkle it atop your grass in late fall so it settles into the soil.
If you don’t want to hang on to your compost, there’s a compost collection site at the Demonstration Garden next to the Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, KS. Additional compost services include:
Explore more composting tips from K-State Research and Extension, and good luck on your compost this fall!
Got lawn or garden questions? Contact Extension’s Gardening Hotline, staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff, at 913-715-7050 or mailto:garden.help@jocogov.org.