Affordable Composting

The change of seasons often generates lots of plant debris. Fall leaves, faded perennials, landscape trimmings and more. So how do you neatly and effectively turn this green debris into valuable compost?

Simply put your green debris in a heap and let it rot. The materials will eventually break down over time. Only use insect and disease free plant debris. Do not add meat, dairy or fat that can attract rodents. And do not include perennial weeds, weeds that have gone to seed or invasive plants.

Compost bins are designed to contain and hide the compost process. You can use a couple metal T posts and cylinder of wire mesh to contain the materials. These are portable and easy to open when turning the pile. Or wire several old heat-treated pallets together to form a bin. Visit www.mastercomposter.com for tips on buying and plans for making your own compost bins.

A bit more information: The more effort you put in the composting process, the faster the results. Adding a layer of soil every 6 to 12 inches and a bit of fertilizer can speed up the process. Turn the pile occasionally, moving the material from the center to the outside and the outer layer of materials to the center. Your efforts will be rewarded with wonderful compost for your garden and containers.