Healthier plants, tastier vegetables and prettier flowers are something you can have without paying for fancy fertilizers or spending extra hours in the garden. All you need is a little compost. If you want to improve your garden, and find new ways to create more sustainable landscaping, composting is a great way to start.
Composting doesn’t require a huge garden space. Even people with just a few houseplants and a small patio can easily start to compost. There are devices you can buy that range from super small for a small deck or even indoors to large tumblers for the more serious green thumb.
How to start composting
From cute counter-top pails to large-scale composting bins, there are devices for every level of gardener. For scraps that need to be kept in the kitchen, there are attractive options that include charcoal filters inside that trap any odors until you’re ready to take your scraps outside. For outdoor composting bins, there are many options and we’ve linked to a few here below to give you an idea of where to start.
For a quick video that shows compost storage options, check out this YouTube video from GardenAnswer and the links below:
- Garden Answer Video about Composting
- Worm Farm Composter
- Dual-Batch Tumbler
- Compost Counter-Top Pail
Larger-scale composting can be done by putting together wire bins where you can have multiple batches of compost at different stages to accommodate the different types of scraps or materials you need to recycle.
What can be composted?
The trick is to aim for equal amounts of green waste and brown waste for healthy compost. Green waste includes fruits and vegetables. Brown waste can be things like dry leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, or even shredded newspapers. Maintaining a balance is important is because brown materials are rich in carbon, feeding the organisms that break down the scraps and green materials supply nitrogen, another essential component for creating new soil.