Seasonal Composting Information

Seasonal composting information is very important to know. This is because sometimes the creation of nutrient rich compost is dependent on timing.

In the Autumn you are best off to collect and shred fallen leaves. They can also be used as mulch for garden beds, shrubs and trees (provided the leaves are chemical and disease free.) You can shred excess leaves and put them in containers so that they can begin to decompose over the winter. To speed up the decomposition process you can put in things like vegetable kitchen scraps, egg shells and other food wastes.

Most composting information does not include this “hot” tip but freezing cold waste matter will not break down. This means putting your waste in an insulated bin of some kind so that the aerobic microbes inside the waste pile are warm enough to break down. It is also a good idea to buy a black bin as the color black absorbs heat and will retain the warmth emanating from the sun on even the chilliest of days.

Yet another important piece of composting is to keep your compost pile active by situating in a sunny spot in the first place. Also the bigger the pile of compost is, the better able your compost pile will be able to remain active over the winter. Some people even insulate their freestanding piles of compost by covering it with straw or a big canvas tarp in the winter so that the waste material inside will degrade at its fastest possible rate.