The first question most people ask is what is Composting anyway? Composting is decayed organic matter that has broken down to a soil like consistency and it is an excellent organic addition to your lawn and garden. Composting is taking garden and/or lawn waste along with certain food scraps, and recycling it into a valuable natural material. It then can be used as mulch in your garden beds and can provide nutrient value to your lawn and vegetable garden. Compost also provides good organic matter to your flowerbeds, lawn and gardens. Compost can be used instead of chemical fertilizers and is a natural solution for most organic gardens.

 

What happens during this process of composting is a breakdown of waste materials are digested by microbes, bacteria and fungi.  The microbes that are the workers of the composting world. When supplied with the proper amounts of air and water these microbes help with the composting process and reduce the chance of a bad odor.  This will only happen if there is not sufficient air going through the composting bin or pile. If the composting bin is producing a bad odor, you can fix this by turning the compost with a manure fork and adding more yard waste to circulate more air.

 

Besides all the benefits compost can do for your lawn and garden, there is a larger benefit.  Compost reduces space used in landfills and helps to reduce methane gases produced by these landfills. This also helps reduce the amount of yard waste you carry to the curb every week. So you can stop bagging and dragging your yard waste.

 

Before starting your composting there are decisions you will need to make. First, what kind of will you need to get started? Next, what kind of waste will you add into your composting bin?  Finally, picking the best place in your backyard to place the bin. This should be in the back corner and away from your house as well as your neighboring houses. Remember it is best to start small and simple.

 

Compost is really not that hard to make. You just need a layer of green yard waste followed by a layer of brown decaying yard waste to your For your green material you can use yard waste such as leaves and dry grass clippings. Don’t use wet grass or wet leaves.  Next, your brown layer materials can include dry grass, dry leaves, shredded branches, dry twigs, straw, and dry garden waste. Regardless of when and how you decide to start composting your waste one thing is for sure, you will have less yard waste going to the landfill.

 

Now go out and buy yourself a and get started.  With a little experimenting and reading up on composting you will quickly become an expert at it. Along with saving trips to the curb you will be producing an organic material that will make your lawn and garden thrive and grow. With greener grass and bigger flowers you will be the envy of your neighborhood.

 

About The Author

 

Dave Berning was born and raised on a dairy farm in Ohio.  He still enjoys working the land both on the family farm and his own backyard and garden.  He owns and operates a lawn and garden supply company with his brother Mark.  Visit them at http://www.barnyardproducts.com/