The Dos and Don’ts of Backyard Composting

Did you know that 40% of a household’s waste is food waste?

Starting a compost bin is one of the easiest ways to reduce your household’s waste and create nutrient rich soil that can be used throughout your garden. With so many different options and styles of compost bins available these days, the best part is that a compost bin no longer has to be an eyesore in your garden and can easily tie in with your landscaping design.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a compost in your backyard or have just recently started one, we thought we’d compile a quick list of the most important dos and don’ts when it comes to backyard composting.

Dos

• Always maintain an equal ratio of brown waste and green waste in your bin – green waste meaning food scraps and brown waste meaning paper, cardboard and straw
• Fill your compost with vegetable and fruit scraps, vegetable oil, pruning and leaves from your garden, tea bags, coffee grounds, toilet rolls, egg shells, flowers, pet hair, your hair, paper, cardboard
• Keep your compost aerated – so if you have a tumbling bin give it a spin at least once a week, and if you have a standard bin simply stir it with a pitchfork once a week
• Place your compost bin in a shaded and well-drained area away from too much sun
• Crush eggshells

Don’ts

• Do not fill your compost bin with animal waste, glossy magazines or coated cardboard, weeds that have seeds, treated timber, fat, diseased plants, metal
• Stay away from excessive amounts of meat and dairy waste as this can attract pests
• Do not include onion, garlic or any citrus scraps – this can repel earthworms and these are vital to the composting process
• Never pour chemical waste in your compost

Pro Tips

• If you don’t like the idea of walking outside every time you have food scraps (especially during the cooler months), keep a small container in your kitchen to keep your food scraps and empty it daily or every second day.
• It’s important to keep your compost moist to speed up the breakdown process. Soak the cardboard and straw before adding it to the pile, but don’t saturate it. You’ll know when your compost is ready when it begins to look like soil and smells earthy – that means you can now feed your flowers and vegie patch with this great, nutrient rich soil!

Composting is one of the easiest ways individuals can start making a positive impact on the environment. If you have any questions about the best ways to incorporate a compost in your landscaping design, or how you can create a sustainable garden, give the team at Watersave Landscaping a call today.