thisplace.com.au - Eco Composting

Composting has been used to maintain soil fertility and nutrient levels for over 4000 years of agricultural and horticultural food production.

Composting is the accelerated natural breakdown of organic material by microorganisms. The compost generated is a good alternative to artificial fertilisers and provides the full range of nutrients require for plant growth.

How to make your own rich compost

choose a well-drained and shady position for your compost pile or bin
always begin your compost pile with a layer of woody twigs or shredded prunings for proper aeration and drainage
mix dry and woody materials with green residues and kitchen scraps

Dry/Woody Green garden residues Kitchen scraps

leaves lawn clippings vegetable scraps

shredded prunings plant remains fruit peelings

paper weeds ( no seeds ) tea leaves

straw flowers coffee grounds

dry grass pot plants

a mixture of soft and woody materials helps aerate the compost and ensures a successful composting process. If a tumbler is used this not essential
keep the compost moist at all times but do not over water. Cover with plastic to retain moisture and prevent the penetration of rainwater
turning the compost speeds up decomposition and ensures sufficient aeration, preventing unpleasant smells
at home the composting process requires approximately 3 to 12 months to be completed depending on the material uses for composting, the amount of air and water available and how the compost is turned
when your compost is finished it will have a fine, crumbly texture and a good earthy smell
it is best to have two parallel composting piles/bins; one which is composting and curing while the other is being filled
weed seeds and plant diseases in your compost are not eliminated unless you have got a large pile ( 1 cubic metre ) where temperatures are high ( 60 degrees Celsius for an extended period ).

Using Compost

Compost is versatile and valuable and can be used in many ways, such as:

an organic fertiliser for garden beds, providing all essential plant nutrients
a surface mulch around shrubs and trees ( keeping it clear of tree trunks )
a top dressing for your lawn ( compost may need screening eg through a sieve
a potting mix for containerised plants/shrubs ( best in a 1 : 1 mix with garden soil )
a soil enhancer which improves many physical and chemical soil properties ( compost counters soil acidification, therefore do not use it on rhododendrons etc )
to replace or improve lost and disturbed topsoil

Solving Composting Problems

Smelly Compost

Cause Solution

Material is too wet ( if water can be squeezed out )
Incorporate dry materials Eg leaves, straw,dry grass,torn newspaper or egg cartons

Cover pile to prevent infiltration of rain water

Not enough air
Turn the heap to improve drainage and aeration

Incorporate coarse materials ( twigs,prunings,leaves )

Establish pile or bin layer ( 10 cm ) of course materials

Increase aeration of compost pile or enclosure by using a perforated aeration pipe or by adding more aeration holes to compost bin

Slow Composting Process

Cause Solution

Too much woody material Add more easily degradable green materials ( grass clippings,garden plants,kitchen scraps )

Incorporate appropriate amount of nitrogen-containing fertiliser (eg blood and bone )

Not enough air See above

Material is too dry Turn the pile and add water

Place pile/bin in a shady location

Cover pile to retain moisture

Pile is too small to heat up Increase size of pile to at least one cubic metre

Cover pile to retain generated heat ( eg plastic, hessian, old carpet )

White Maggots

Cause Solution

Food Scrapes
Do not compost these materials

Cover the maggots with lime

Add soil to cover food scraps

Do not use an enclosed bin composting system

Brown Segmented Larvae

Cause Solution

Not enough air These are Soldier Fly larvae, which are beneficial for the composting process. However, they indicate that there is not enough oxygen in the compost pile, which might result in unpleasant smells ( solution see above )

Small Vinegar Flies

Cause Solution

Fruit These are not fruit flies! Vinegar flies are harmless!

Cover fruit remains with other materials

Do not add fruit remains

Pile is too Acidic

Cause Solution

Add lime to neutralise naturally formed acids ( sprinkle lightly )

Turn pile more frequently and ensure good aeration

Vermin

Cause Solution

Easy access to food scraps Use fully enclosed composting bin ( eg tumbler )

Put fine wire mesh underneath the pile/bin

Cover food scraps with soil or garden remains

Do not compost food scraps

Mice nesting in pile Turn pile regularly and keep it moist

Source: Brisbane City Council information sheet

Dry/Woody	Green garden residues	Kitchen scraps
leaves	lawn clippings	vegetable scraps
shredded prunings	plant remains	fruit peelings
paper	weeds ( no seeds )	tea leaves
straw	flowers	coffee grounds
dry grass	pot plants

Smelly Compost
Cause	Solution
Material is too wet ( if water can be squeezed out )	Incorporate dry materials Eg leaves, straw,dry grass,torn newspaper or egg cartons
Material is too wet ( if water can be squeezed out )	Cover pile to prevent infiltration of rain water
Not enough air	Turn the heap to improve drainage and aeration
	Incorporate coarse materials ( twigs,prunings,leaves )
	Establish pile or bin layer ( 10 cm ) of course materials
	Increase aeration of compost pile or enclosure by using a perforated aeration pipe or by adding more aeration holes to compost bin

Slow Composting Process
Cause	Solution
Too much woody material	Add more easily degradable green materials ( grass clippings,garden plants,kitchen scraps )
Too much woody material	Incorporate appropriate amount of nitrogen-containing fertiliser (eg blood and bone )
Not enough air	See above
Material is too dry	Turn the pile and add water
	Place pile/bin in a shady location
	Cover pile to retain moisture
Pile is too small to heat up	Increase size of pile to at least one cubic metre
Pile is too small to heat up	Cover pile to retain generated heat ( eg plastic, hessian, old carpet )

White Maggots
Cause	Solution
Food Scrapes	Do not compost these materials
	Cover the maggots with lime
	Add soil to cover food scraps
	Do not use an enclosed bin composting system

Brown Segmented Larvae
Cause	Solution
Not enough air	These are Soldier Fly larvae, which are beneficial for the composting process. However, they indicate that there is not enough oxygen in the compost pile, which might result in unpleasant smells ( solution see above )

Small Vinegar Flies
Cause	Solution
Fruit	These are not fruit flies! Vinegar flies are harmless!
	Cover fruit remains with other materials
	Do not add fruit remains

Pile is too Acidic
Cause	Solution
	Add lime to neutralise naturally formed acids ( sprinkle lightly )
	Turn pile more frequently and ensure good aeration

Vermin
Cause	Solution
Easy access to food scraps	Use fully enclosed composting bin ( eg tumbler )
	Put fine wire mesh underneath the pile/bin
	Cover food scraps with soil or garden remains
	Do not compost food scraps
Mice nesting in pile	Turn pile regularly and keep it moist