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Fall composting tips
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Fall is an excellent time to work on your compost pile. At the end of the season home gardeners have a lot of organic refuse at once as plants become spent and are affected by the cold. Also, dead leaves are abundant and are a rich source of nutrients. Beginning a new compost pile in the autumn will allow plenty of time for the materials to break down into usable fertilizer. Before winter approaches, empty your compost bins, work the compost into your soil and begin a new compost pile with the organic material that was once part of this summer’s garden.
There are ways to make your new fall compost pile more efficient. First, chop up any large pieces of organic refuse and take care in layering it in the pile. Coarser material breaks down better if placed at the bottom. Next, add a nitrogen source on top of these materials, like cut grass or shredded leaves. In fact, it is best if you mix these two materials together as they both have a tendency to mat if placed in the pile in large quantities. Compost piles need an equal balance of “brown” (straw, dried grasses, paper) and “green” (fresh plant trimmings, eggshells, manure) materials to work properly. Avoid adding weeds with seed heads, as the pile may not get hot enough to sterilize them during winter. Generally, compost piles need more nitrogen in winter to keep them hot enough to decay material. Consider adding supplements if you have more brown (carbon sources) than green (nitrogen producing) materials. Cottonseed meal, manure, and blood or bone meal are all sources of nitrogen if your pile lacks it.
Most compost piles will slow down in winter but keep adding whatever organic material you have to it. When adding kitchen waste remember to dig into the center of the pile and bury it. If it is frozen try keeping kitchen scraps in a sealed bin that is outdoors but still easily accessible if the weather is bad. If the weather is not freezing and there has been no precipitation, water the pile once in awhile. Don’t turn the compost pile after the weather cools as it will prevent the compost from keeping warm.
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