Kickstart your compost heap to grow a better garden with these tips to faster composting!
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How To Make Compost Fast
Tune in to the podcast episode and listen in below or keep reading to learn how to make compost faster.
Get Shredding
Break up your compostable materials into smaller pieces. Use hand pruning shears or secateurs
Got bigger branches or tall stalks? Consider an electric garden shredder or wood chipper
How it works
Smaller pieces mean more space for the microbes and bugs to get in and break down the materials even more into compost.
Diversify!
Add a range of compostable materials to your compost heap. The best combination is a ratio of 2 parts green, fresh, nitrogen-rich materials to 1 part brown, carbon-rich materials.
Green materials are things like grass clippings, coffee grounds, orange peels, and chicken manure.
Brown materials are shredded paper, sawdust, fall leaves, cardboard, straw, and twigs.
How it works
Different materials contain different microbes to break the materials down in the compost heap and provide more nutrients for your soil and plants when the compost is finished.
Get Turning
A quick fix for a slow or sluggish compost heap is to turn it! Get in there and turn your compost heap more regularly. Turning every week speeds up composting and means you can check your moisture levels.
Remember your compost heap or bin wants to feel like a wrung-out sponge for the right moisture level.
If you’re not able to get in the heap with a garden fork or shovel then consider an insulated tumbling composter
How it works
The microbes responsible for making compost in a home garden need air. Turning your compost gives them the oxygen they need and starts them up breaking down the materials in your compost heap.
Activate!
Use a compost activator or compost starter to help your compost heap get going.
Popular compost activators are:
- comfrey
- grass clippings
- manure
How it works
Compost activators help you to compost faster by supplying a lot of nitrogen or microbes to the compost heap. Materials high in nitrogen decompose quickly whilst more microbes mean more activity breaking things down in the heap.
Learn More
Dig in and read more about composting with these popular posts!
- Bokashi Composting: The Composting Method You’re Probably Missing Out On
- How Do I Start Composting In A Small Garden?
- Composting Is A Super-Frugal Goldmine How To Get Started
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Always ensure to operate safely. All projects are purely “at your own risk” and are for information purposes only. As with any project, unfamiliarity with the tools, animals, plants, and processes can be dangerous. Posts, podcasts, and videos should be read and interpreted as theoretical advice only and are not a substitute for advice from a fully licensed professional.
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