UF/IFAS Extension: All Things Compost

Composting is the aerobic decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. It transforms raw materials—such as leaves, grass clippings, garden trimmings, food scraps, animal manure and agricultural residues— into compost, a valuable earthy-smelling soil conditioner, teeming with life.

Every year, U.S. land lls and trash incinerators receive 167 MILLION TONS OF GARBAGE.

ilsr.org/compost-impacts

Bene ts of Using Compost:

• Provides nutrients back into the soil as well as to the plant. • Helps the soil hold water. • Feeds the microbes and soil life.

When using compost, keep in mind that the nitrogen content goes down as the compost is composted. Therefore, it’s a good idea to add another nitrogen source later in the growing season. There are various ways to use compost. You can sprinkle compost on top or mix it into your garden beds, gently rake compost into tree beds, blend it with potting soil to revitalize indoor plants or spread it on top of the soil on your lawn as a soil amendment.

Homemade Compost:

Making your own compost is a wonderful way to get rid of your food waste by recycling it.

When making your own compost, consider the salt content of your food. You wouldn’t put salt water on your plants, so you want to be mindful of the amount of salt content food you add into your compost pile.

Store Compost:

If shopping at a box store for compost, two common types of compost found are cow manure and mushroom compost.

Mushroom Compost:

Mushroom compost has higher PH. Columbia County Horticulture Agent, Erin Harlow, recommends mixing mushroom compost with a bag of soil or native soil before adding it into the garden.

Manure Compost:

When using manure in the garden, avoid pig and domestic animal waste. Rabbit poop is the only manure that can go straight into the garden for immediate use. All other manure needs to sit for at least 180 days before it is safe to be added into the garden.

In Florida, the soil tends to be very sandy, so adding compost to the native Florida soil encourages it to hold water. Compost contains lots of organic material which also tends to hold water more easily.

Soil:

Row Crop Extension Agent Jay Capasso at the UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County said, “You can get your soil tested at the extension lab at UF. I recommend doing this annually. Then, you can contact the extension o ce to get help interpreting the report. Fertilizing the soil is not a one size ts all type of thing. Therefore it is important to get an annual soil test.”

Jay Capasso UF/IFAS Columbia County Row Crop Extension Agent

Stay connected with local North Florida gardeners in the Facebook group: Grow Gainesville. ■

HOW TO

COMPOST

Composting is often overcomplicated. Check out this simple way to start a compost pile today! When creating a hot compost pile, you only need 4 ingredients: green material (nitrogen), brown material (carbon), water (moist, not soggy), and air.

Brown Material to produce carbon:

Dead leaves, branches and twigs, sawdust or wood chips, co ee lters, cotton or wool rags, shredded pieces of paper, cardboard or newspaper and shredded nut shells.

Preparing Children for Lifelong Success WHAT YOU WILL NEED • School Readiness: Child Care & A er School Financial Assistance. • Family Engagement Activities and Events. Green Material to produce nitrogen: Grass clippings and leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, hair, • Technical Assistance and Training for lint, tea and co ee grounds. Child Care Professionals. • Professional Development Scholarships for eligible Child Care Professionals. • Recruitment & Retention Grants for Qualified Early Learning Professionals.

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Select a dry, shady spot near a water source.

Ideal size for your compost area is 3-feet wide by 3-feet deep by 3-feet tall (1 cubic yard). You can buy a bin, use chicken wire or just isolate an area of ground for your compost heap.

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Add brown and green material in alternate layers.

Try and keep the ratio roughly 3 parts browns to 1 part greens. Make sure larger pieces of material are chopped or shredded.

Keep the compost moist3 386-752-9770 • 1-866-752-9770 (but not too wet). www.ELCGateway.orgMoisture helps with the breakdown of organic matter.

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Occasionally turn your compost 5 6

mixture to provide aeration.

This helps speed up the composting process and keeps things airy, which cuts the risk of things getting smelly.

As materials break down, the pile will get warm.

There might even be steam. Don’t be alarmed; that means it’s working. Now, you just have to wait.

All done!

When material is dark with no remnants of food or waste, your compost is ready. Add it to lawns and gardens or anywhere that could bene t from some good soil.

Where to create a compost pile:

You can create a compost pile in di erent environments, such as a compost bin or bucket. If you create the compost pile on the ground, it allows the worms to nd the pile. Worms are an added bonus to composting and can speed up the process of breaking down the pile. Pro tips: Add in good composted soil to help kick-start the good bacteria in WHAT NOT TO COMPOST your compost pile. • Metal • Glass Keep it simple. Build the pile by doing • Coal or Charcoal Ash a 50/50 volume of green and brown • Diseased or Insect-Ridden Plants materials. Get out there and try it. It’s • Pet Waste the best way to learn. • Bones Some information from www.PBS.org/Nature

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