Compost is a wonderful soil amendment that helps improve the texture of your soil. It is also very easy to produce yourself at home by using only kitchen and lawn waste. However, it is not likely that you (or anyone) will yield perfect compost every time; it is a skill that is subject to trial and error. Composting mistakes are common to beginners in gardening. Here we have some solutions to common problems and mistakes as well as tips so that you can use your compost with confidence.

1. Too Many Greens

“Greens” are the nitrogen-rich components of compost. These would include most kitchen scraps as well as things like coffee grounds. Compost requires a delicate balance of greens and browns. When you have too many greens, compost will become too wet and can become compacted, which hurts the beneficial bacteria in your pile. This can cause your compost to smell rotten. Too many greens may also yield a compost that is thick and clumps together. Add more brown material such as straw, twigs, or dead leaves to fix this problem. Turning the mixture will also let more air in, creating a friendlier environment for the bacteria and avoiding adding more moisture to the compost pile until the smell has dissipated.

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3. Too Coarse

Larger material like egg shells or leaves does not fully decompose, this is a common problem for new compost piles. New piles do not have strong microbiome as established piles. If you are finding particles of waste in mature compost, it is totally fine to add it back into an existing compost pile. This can actually benefit a compost pile by reintroducing microbes. As a preventative measure, you can shred or crush all the materials that go into your compost pile so that they are easier to break down. That’s one way in composting.

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4. Composting the Wrong Things

There are many things that should not be composted. If you have any doubt about whether or not something can be composted, err on the side of caution and do your research. Generally, animal products are not good for compost because they can attract larger animals like raccoons or rats. These products would include meats, fish, and dairy. Going with animal products is the waste of carnivores like cats or dogs. Herbivore waste, however, can be composted, but carnivores are more subject to parasites and harmful microbes. Other things that should be avoided are glossy cardboard, coal ash, oils, and weeds that have gone to seed.

Compost Uses

Perfect compost is dark and crumbly with a pleasant, earthy smell. If there are any large particle like twigs or leaves, you can take them out and throw them back into an active compost pile. Once your compost has matured, you’ll be able to use it in a variety of ways. Generally speaking, start with a small amount of compost and increase as needed.

In Your Garden

Compost is a wonderful soil amendment for gardens because of its ability to improve soil texture. A more aerated soil will allow plants to grow deeper roots and better crops. As a general guideline in composting, add an even 1-3 inch layer of compost when planting in a garden. You may need to add more if you soil is high in clay or sand. Alternatively, if you have very rich soil, you can add less. Adding compost to a garden is easily done manually with your hands or a shovel.

DIY Potting Soil

Compost is also excellent for potting soils because of its ability to retain moisture while also improving drainage. While there are many different recipes for potting mix, a basic one would be to combine equal amounts of compost, vermiculite, and topsoil. The addition of compost will also introduce a healthy microbiome to the plant you plan to pot.

Top Dressing Lawns

To spread compost on a lawn, it is especially important not to add too much as it can smother the grass. Adding a ¼-inch layer is ideal for adding nutrients while still allowing the grass space to breathe and grow. This even spread is often difficult to achieve when using a wheelbarrow and shovel, so we recommend using the Landzie Compost & Peat Moss Spreader. To use this manual compost spreader, you need only fill it will coarse-textured compost and walk a path around your lawn. This cuts down on manual labor and saves time when spreading compost. After adding compost to your lawn, empty any remaining compost from the spreader to use later or add it back to an active compost pile. Make sure to water your lawn thoroughly; this helps the compost seep further down into the soil instead of sitting on the blades of grass.