10 Amazing Composting Tips for Beginners

Composting is one of the most beneficial things you can do for several reasons. First of all, you're using waste that would otherwise go in the dump, to benefit your fruits and veggie plants. Second of all, this compost not only benefits your plants, but also protects them from the elements, and also keeps them moist. Composting is something everyone should do, especially if you're growing your own fruits and vegetables. These 10 amazing composting tips will help you get on the right track to composting and give you a bountiful garden.

10 Amazing Composting Tips

#1.  Add Food Scraps

Don't throw away those food scraps! Simply throw them into your compost bin where they will decompose and add tons of minerals to your compost. Plus you'll save money on fertilizer!

#2. Get a Sealed Container

You don't have to bring out your food scraps every time. Instead, have a little bin underneath your counter top with a lid on it to keep smells away. Once it's full, bring it out and throw it into your compost pile.

#3. Know What to Compost

It's important to know what you can and cannot compost. One of the best things you can compost are eggshells, coffee grounds, vegetable skins, and fruit skins.

#4. Know What NOT to Compost

The above items are perfect to compost, but there are things which should never reach your compost pile. These things include meats, dairy products, plastics, or metals.

#5. Balance Your Compost Pile

A really good rule of thumb is for your compost pile is to balance out the carbon and nitrogen. Usually, brown items will give you carbon, and green items will give you nitrogen. Remember to keep them balanced at all times for the best fertilizer.

#6. Compost Location

Don't ever place your compost pile in a sunny spot. This may seem obvious for smell reasons, but a shady spot is best because your pile won't dry out as quickly. If your compost pile does dry out, you may water it.

#7. Compost Type

You can literally compost in any medium, from a hole in the ground to a black box to simply just piling it on. Although a hole in the ground or just a pile, may bring by unwanted smells and/or critters.

#8. Don't Overload

As mentioned above, your compost pile should be balanced between green and brown items. You may be tempted to pile on grass clippings, but this will only imbalance your pile.

#9. Add Carbon

If your compost pile IS unbalanced, you may add shredded newspaper. Shredded newspaper will decompose into carbon, therefore balancing your pile.

#10. Smaller is Better

Try not to throw big items into your pile: the smaller they are the faster they'll decompose. So before you add in your veggies or fruits, think about cutting them up into smaller pieces.

Happy Planting!