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10 Ways of Speeding Up Compost - How To Make Compost Part 3.
Sun 23 November 2008
02:48pm
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a place for your composting to happen and also what to put in compost and in this post I am going to talk about how you can speed up the composting process to get that compost you want much quicker. I managed to think of 10 ways to do this so naturally I had to be call this post 10 ways to speed up compost...1. Keep the composter up to temperature
Composting happens faster at higher temperatures and slows down in cooler temperatures. The ideal temperature for composting to happen is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). To improve the temperature it is best to place your composter in a sunny area, but also an area which is sheltered away from any cold winds. You can also try insulating your composter which will help to keep the warmth generated by the composting process inside the composter. A layer of Bubble wrap or Cardboard around the inside wall will work very well.
2. Make sure you have the right stuff and amounts
As I talked about in
part 2 you have to make sure that you have the right amounts of 'greens and browns' with a mix of approximately two parts brown to one part green. If you just have one or the other, the composting will be very slow or won't happen at all. Also remember to put your 'greens and browns' into 2 inch (5cm) layers which was also stated in part 2.3. Manually turn your compost
By using a garden fork turn and mix up your compost every now and again. This mixes up the browns and greens better and you also find that the middle of the composter is the first section that starts composting (as this is the warmest part). Manually turning your compost also adds adds air in the mix too which is one of those important ingredients.
4. The right amount of water
Having the right amount of water content is very important. The aim is to get the contents damp but not soggy. In summer you will definitely have to add more because it will get so dry. Also be aware that although the top may look damp it may not be damp underneath. Greens such as freshly cut grass can help to add moisture if you only need to add a small amount and if it is too wet you can always add some browns such as cardboards, newspaper and tissues which help to suck up the excess. Two indicators which can tell you how wet your composter is are that if it is too wet it will start to smell and if you have ants roaming around then it is too dry.
5. Make sure the stuff you put in is in small bits
If you put in a large tree branch in a composter it just isn't going to decompose very fast. But if that tree branch was shredded up into sawdust it is going to become compost faster. So make sure all the items you put in your composter are either torn up, cut up or sawn up into smaller pieces.
6. Add lots of air into the mix
Air helps the decomposting process too and one way we can add more is by manually turning your compost (see number 3 above). But this can also be done as you place your items in by for example scrunching up 'browns' such as newspaper or empty toilet rolls and egg boxes which will create little pockets of air between them inside your compost.
7. Add soil, old compost or manure
Adding one of these three items adds micro-organisms and bacteria that is already in them and transfers them to your compost heap. These will help to decompose you items quicker and will also help the structure of your compost too, just mix it in well for it to have the best effect. I usually add the old compost from pots and hanging baskets when the plants inside them are at the end of their season.
8. Add a few worms that you find
If I come across a worm whilst I am digging and I am actually near the composter, I always add it in there. By putting him in there he will help to move the compost around and add some airways. The worms can always get out the empty bottom and back into the soil, but he can do things which are beneficial to your compost whilst he is in there.
9. Add a natural compost accelerator
Free compost accelerators help to speed up the decomposition process and are all natural. These can be easily found in the form of young nettles, comfrey leaves, seaweed and chicken manure. What these free compost accelerators do is add lots nitrogen to your composter which you need because objects such as wood and tough weeds draw the nitrogen already in there from your greens. These these add the nitrogen back which helps the composting process.
10. Buy a special composting product
If after all that your composting still isn't fast enough for you there are some extra special composting products available on the market. These work by adding, feeding and exciting the compost bacteria and micro-organisms so they accelerate the rotting process. If you are in a rush to get that compost ready they are very good at what they do, but it does mean that your compost isn't totally free any more but they tend to last ages as they are watered down. Two of these special composting products are available by clicking the links below...
Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Compost Maker 1.3kg
Activ8 Organic Compost Maker 2.7KG
That brings us to the end of our three part How To Make Compost Series. Hopefully now you will be well on track to making some really great compost which you can put and use all round your garden to feed those hungry plants.
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