Do it for your garden. Properly made compost can help you
enjoy
one of your best gardening seasons ever.

Simply put, high-quality compost (2 to 3 pounds per square
foot) makes most garden soils vastly more productive.

In heavy clay soils, the compost reduces compaction, helps
increase aeration and enables water to better infiltrate the
soil.
In sandy soils, it makes the soil better able to retain both
water
and nutrients.

Compost is a good source of “slow-release” organic
fertilizer, too. It makes the fertilizer less likely to leach
out, making needed plant nutrients available for your garden
veggies
throughout the season.

And in contrast to unprocessed organic matter, properly
composted
material is free of viable weed seed, nematodes and diseases.
The bottom line is that compost can give both your garden and
your gardening experience a really big boost.

Unfortunately, high-quality compost is required in fairly
large
amounts, it’s often sold only in bulk (so getting it home can
be a hassle) and it isn’t readily available in most places.

Admittedly, these are serious negatives. But don’t get
discouraged.
There is a simple solution: make it.

Most gardeners know compost is good for their gardens. But
many don’t really understand what it is, much less how to make
it.

The first step in mastering the process is having a good
definition.
Simply put, compost is what’s left of organic matter after
microbes have thoroughly decomposed it. You can extract all
of the fundamentals of composting from that short sentence.

1. Organic Matter. Almost any plant material
can be composted. Readily available organic matter includes
leaves,
grass clippings, twigs, chopped brush, straw, sawdust and
vegetable
plants (along with culled produce) from the garden.

You can add kitchen peelings and coffee grounds, too. Don’t
use table scraps, though, to avoid attracting animals to the
compost
pile.

2. Microbes. The bacteria and fungi that do
the decomposing are so tiny they can’t be seen without
magnification.
Although a number of companies sell them, you don’t need to spend
your money. These microbes are everywhere.

Mixing a few scoops of garden soil or compost from a previous
batch into the compost pile will provide all the microbes you
need to start the process.

Like all living organisms, microbes require water and
nutrients.
Much of the water is supplied by the organic matter. More water
can be sprinkled onto the pile as needed.

All of the nutrients the microbes need can be provided by the
organic matter if it has enough nitrogen. If the organic matter
needs more nitrogen, incorporate a little nitrogen fertilizer
or animal manure.

The most desirable microbes require oxygen. An ample supply
is in the air. However, as microbes decompose the organic matter,
they tend to use up all the oxygen in the pile. To let in more
oxygen, simply turn the pile occasionally.

3. Decomposition. Organic matter is food for
microbes. However, they can’t take a bite, chew, swallow and then
digest it as we do. Microbes release powerful chemicals called
enzymes that digest, or decompose the organic matter.

After the organic matter is broken down into small molecules,
microbes absorb these molecules and use them for energy and
reproduction.
Because this process generates heat, compost piles normally reach
temperatures of 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

These temperatures, sustained over several weeks, kill weed
seeds, nematodes and many other organisms that cause plant
diseases.
This is one reason compost is so much better than noncomposted
organic matter.

Those are the basics of composting. It’s a simple process you
can do easily at home. For more detailed information, contact
your county Extension Service office.