by Janette Peel

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

Turn your household kitchen scraps and garden waste into rich garden soil with nutritious compost.

Composting is the process by which bacteria and other organisms break down dead plant material. For this break down to occur, an active compost pile requires a temperature of 55-70C, adequate moisture and good air circulation.

Properly maintained it will not give off bad odors, or attract insects and animals. To avoid the undesirables, you should note that certain materials should not be used for composting purposes. Meat, fat, bones and dairy products decompose very slowly, cause terrible smells, and attracts vermin and flies, while pet waste can spread unhealthy organisms.

The composting process results in a rich dark humus that is ideal for improving soil quality. This practice makes an excellent organic plant food and creates a rich, natural soil conditioner with a coarse texture that helps loosen heavy clay soils, improving them for healthy root growth. It also improves the water-holding capacity of sandy soils.

Composting also allows you to re-use organic waste, such as lawn clippings and leaves that would otherwise take up space in a dump or landfill.

The easiest way to compost kitchen and garden waste is to create a loose pile where air and water can reach it. For best results the pile should be approximately one meter high by one meter wide. An overhang such as the canopy of a tree would be beneficial as this would prevent the compost heap from getting soaked or blown apart in a storm.

Another efficient option is to purchase a pre-made compost bin from a garden center or hardware store. Some are available in tumbler form. These are cylinders that allow you to rotate materials inside with little effort. The least expensive units are simple round or square plastic bins with a lid and air vents.

Composting materials should be turned regularly with a garden fork to allow for ventilation, which speeds up the decaying process. Turn your compost once every fortnight; using a fluffing action to help add more air to the pile and break up any clumps. Also water lightly to make pile moist but not soggy.

You can compost most organic waste materials such as lawn clippings, vegetable scraps, manures (chook, cow, horse, and sheep), shredded newspaper, twigs and sticks, even wood ash. The key is to add a fairly even mixture of green and brown materials - damp and dry in layers and to chop or shred the materials before adding. The smaller the material, the quicker it will compost. Autumn leaves make an excellent addition to the compost heap but can take some time to break down. If you don't have a shredder just spread them over your lawn then mow and collect them in the catcher.

When your compost has fully decomposed it becomes a versatile, easy-to-use product which can be dug into sandy of clay ground to make it a more nutrient rich and water retentive soil ideal for raised garden beds and landscape beds.

Compost can be mixed with potting media, 1:3 ratio, or added as a dressing for container potted plants. It acts as a slow release fertilizer reducing the need for chemical feeding.

Apply two or more inches of your compost as mulch. It will protect and keep root zones cool and help conserve moisture while slowly feeding the plants. If applied much thicker or over multiple layers of newspaper it acts as a marvelous weed barrier meaning less time weeding the garden and more time enjoying it.

Remember, today's garden waste can easily become tomorrow's rich garden soil through composting.

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