Composting Tips

• Dicing or shredding the organic material greatly reduces volume and decreases the decomposition time. However, material used in any composting process should not be too fine or it will become matted and will make it difficult for air to enter the pile.

• Do not place roots of invasive plants (e.g. crab grass, morning glory) in the composter since they survive the composting process and may take root where the finished compost is used.

• Do not add cat or dog waste to your compost bin or heap since they may contain parasites and hence the resultant compost may contain these damaging microbes also.

• Do not add diseased plants to any composting process. These harmful microbes survive the composting process and will harm any plant which the resultant compost contacts.

• If you have sprayed your lawn, shrubs or trees with pesticides do not use their trimmings as 'mulch' or place these trimmings in compost systems and bins. This is because the concentration of chemicals present in the pesticides will affect the microbes in the soil and compost heaps. Use of the trimmings can resume after two' lawn mowings' or 'prunings'.

• To make bins animal proof consider the following:
  - Line the compost bins with wire mesh.
  - Add a secure or airtight lid.
  - Make ventilation holes no bigger than a quarter inch.

• Do not encourage pets and children to play in or near compost heap, or bins to avoid germs being spread around the household.

• Compost bins are more advantageous than compost heaps because their enclosure discourages animals and they tend to look tidier.

• It is better that you construct compost systems from materials such as plastic which can withstand harsh weather conditions.

• When using grass trimmings as mulch cut the grass when it is no higher than four inches and mow the grass no lower than two inches. The grass trimmings do not provide minerals for the soil only moisture so lawns may still need to be fertilized.

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