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Compost is a natural fertilizer. It improves soil structure and soil's water-holding capacity. Gardeners understand the value of compost and the improvements it makes in a garden. It makes the difference between scraggly plants that struggle to bloom and beautiful, full plants that flower long after others have stopped.

The best compost ingredients include yard waste such as leaves, sticks and cut grass, and kitchen scraps. If you have pets or farm animals, their waste can be added to the compost pile. The organic materials in compost provide microorganisms the food they need to produce nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous to enrich the soil. The end product is humus, appearing as dark soil. The microscopic particles bond with the nutrients in the soil and nourish the plant roots.

Due to an increased interest in recycling, there are several different composters available. Simple holding units produce a slower decomposition. These can be just a space allotted for the compost pile, or a commercial bin. Either way the contents will need to be rotated often to aerate. Tumbling compost bins work more quickly because turning the bin mixes the contents and aerates the compost better. Be sure to learn about each type so you can choose the best one to suit your needs.

Tips For Better Composting

1. Add your kitchen scraps to the compost pile. Vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, egg shells and food scraps are high in nitrogen that your compost needs.

2. A compost pile should be no bigger than 3 feet by 3 feet for optimum heat.

3. Be sure to keep your compost aerated so it gets the oxygen it needs to break down effectively.

4. A compost pile should not get too dry. Make sure there is some moisture in it to keep it active.

5. If the pile gets too much moisture it will start to stink.

6. Make sure you have a good combination of material in your compost pile. Too much of one thing will slow the process.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Foster.
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