Lawn Care/Basics for Homeowners-Lawn Care/Fertilization/Composting as an Alternative

Introduction

Creating a Compost Pile

Compost Ingredients

Advantages to Composting

Introduction

Supplies of high-quality, low-cost topsoil are declining, particularly in urban areas where the demand is greatest. Compost is, therefore, becoming particularly important in applications requiring large amounts of topsoil. Increasingly, compost is being used as an alternative to natural topsoil in new construction, landscape renovations, and container gardens. Using compost in these types of applications is not only less expensive than purchasing topsoil, but it can often produce better results when trying to establish a healthy vegetative cover.

Image Source: Texas A&M Turfgrass Program

Compost is also an effective landscaping mulch. Placed over the roots of plants, compost mulch conserves water and stabilizes soil temperatures. In addition, compost mulch keeps plants healthy by controlling weeds, providing a slow release of nutrients, and preventing soil loss through erosion. Landscapers and gardeners also use compost as mulch because its dark, rich color accents the vibrant colors of flowering plants.

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Creating a Compost Pile

A compost pile can be set up in a corner of the yard with few supplies. Choose a level spot about 3- to 5-feet square near a water source and preferably out of direct sunlight. Clear the area of sod and grass. When building a composting bin, such as with chicken wire, scrap wood, or cinder blocks, be sure to leave enough space for air to reach the pile. One removable side makes it easier to tend the pile.

Start the pile with a 4-inch layer of leaves, loose soil, or other coarse yard trimmings. If you are going to compost food scraps (a slightly more involved process), you should mix them with yard trimmings when adding them to the pile. Alfalfa meal or clean cat litter may be added to the pile to absorb odors. In dry weather, sprinkle water on the pile, but don't get it too soggy. Turn the pile every few weeks with a pitchfork to circulate air and distribute moisture evenly. Don't be surprised by the heat of the pile or if you see worms, both of which are part of the decomposition process. Make sure children do not play in the composting pile or bin.

In most climates, the compost is done in 3 to 6 months when it becomes a dark crumbly material that is uniform in texture. Spread on lawn or under the shrubbery.

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Compost Ingredients

Providing adequate sources of carbon and nitrogen is important since these elements are required by microorganisms for growth and cell division. Carbon also serves as an energy source for soil organisms. Ideally, the ratio of these nutrients in the compost system should approximate 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen (by dry weight). This allows for the most rapid and efficient degradation of the organic material.

Food scraps and yard trimmings can be classified into two categories according to their carbon and nitrogen content:

• "Green" materials, such as fresh grass clippings, manure, garden plants, and kitchen scraps contain large amounts of nitrogen.
• "Brown" materials, such as dried leaves and plants, branches, and woody materials have a high carbon content but are relatively low in nitrogen.

Through experimentation and patience, a suitable formulation of green and brown materials will be derived. This is part of the art and science of backyard composting. For example, mixing together equal volumes of fresh grass clippings ("greens") and dry leaves ("browns") is a simple "recipe" for novice backyard composters. Listed below are some various organic materials for inclusion and exclusion in backyard composts. Note that even human and animal hair clippings (which are good sources of nitrogen), soiled paper (e.g., paper towels, napkins) and shredded nonrecyclable paper can also be included in a backyard compost.

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Caution must be utilized when composting certain food scraps and manures since they can attract pests as well as putrefy in poorly maintained systems. Fish and meat scraps, dairy products, and oily and fatty foods should be avoided in backyard composts. Composting of feces from humans, dogs, cats, and other non-vegetarian animals is also discouraged since the feces may contain meat and dairy by-products. More importantly, these can harbor human pathogens that survive the composting process. Alternatively, many home composters add farm animal manure, which is an excellent source of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) and microorganisms and poses less of an infectious risk in the compost pile.

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Advantages To Composting

Adding compost to gardens and lawns has a number of benefits:

• Compost is essentially a soil conditioner. It enhances the structure of soil by binding soil particles together. This improves aeration and the ability of the soil to retain water and nutrients. Compost also improves drainage in clay soils and water retention in sandy soils.
• Compost improves the buffering capacity of the soil and minimizes adverse effects to plants due to extreme shifts in soil pH.
• Adding compost to soil attracts earthworms, which aerate the soil and add additional nutrients to the soil.
• Compost can store nutrients and release them slowly for use by surrounding plants. Note that compost is not considered to be a fertilizer although it does contain low levels of essential plant nutrients.

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