Time To Grow

How to Build a Compost Pile

When it comes to building a compost pile, there is no exact process or method. Experts feel that it is a nature’s method and one needs to just pile it up and allow it to rot. There is no fixed time to start with building a compost pile. You can build a compost pile anytime of the year. All you require to do is to look out for a corner of your yard.

There should be at least 25 square feet of space available to build a compost pile. This is all that you require and you can trigger off the process.

Compost is a combination of mulch, soil conditioner and fertilizer all mixed into one. It works towards providing adept nutrition to the microorganisms present in the soil in order to help plants stay healthy. It also facilitates clay soil drain better and to allow sandy soil hold enough water.

The process of composting minimizes your personal contribution to waste stream via recycling yard and waste in the kitchen into the best soil amendment that can be found in the universe. If this piece of information has motivated you to build a compost pile on your own, here are some steps on how to build a compost pile that will break down fast and would not smell bad at all.

1. Step one: Look out for a site that is within the reach of your kitchen and still out of plain sight.

2. Step two: You would require a pile of leaves, yard wastes and grass clippings to build a compost pile. There is no requirement of a bin. However, a bin will keep the compost inside and the look is neat. You can even build a compost pile in a simple wire column cut out of a four foot wide by eight-foot long piece of stiff wire mesh.

3. Step three: You can even purchase a permanent bin or build a three-bin compost system cut out of slatted wood. Recycled pallets will also do. Now, leave the bins open on one side. This will allow you to add compost materials and turn the pile easily. Now, cover the top of the bin with the help of a plywood sheet.

4. Step four: Green garden debris and brown garden debris are the best elements to build a compost pile. Green ingredients are rich in nitrogen and brown materials are high in carbon.

5. Step five: The balance of one part green and two parts brown material is perfect to compost piles. Add one forkful (garden) of green material and two for full of brown material. Mix well.

6. Step six: Add some finished compost or garden soil to initiate the microbial activity in your pile.

7. Step seven: Correct amount of moisture is required for building compost pile. Moisten every layer of material carefully.

8. Step eight: Make sure you turn the pile once in a week to move material from the outside of the pile in.

9. Step nine: The compost is finished in about two months. There is no longer heating up. You will not be able to identify the original materials.

This should get you started to build a compost pile for the first time. Good luck!