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Composting is the natural breakdown of food and yard waste into a nutrient-rich material which can be added to your gardens. Compost improves the fertility, structure, aeration, and moisture-holding capacity of the soil.
While residents of HRM are fortunate to have a curbside green cart collection program, backyard composting is an activity that greatly compliments that service.
The ingredients for a good compost pile include sources of nitrogen (fruit, vegetable scraps, grass clippings) and carbon (leaves, straw, wood chips).
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| Items like meat, bones, dairy products, pet waste, oils/grease and weeds with mature seeds should go in your green cart, not your compost pile. |
Backyard composting can be done in commercial bins, home-made bins, or simple open piles.
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The composter should be located in a shady or partially shaded site, convenient to the house.
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Place a layer (15 cm) of brown material and a handful of soil in the bottom of the bin.
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Alternate layers of green and brown material in your composter. Always cover kitchen waste with brown material.
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Add water as needed. The pile should stay moist, like a damp sponge. If water drips when you squeeze a handful of compost it is too wet.
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Turn the pile every two weeks (for faster composting), or simply poke a few holes into the centre of the pile (for slower composting).
Most problems with backyard compost piles can be easily resolved.
- Bad odours usually mean the pile is too wet or too compacted. Add a dry material (such as leaves wood chips or straw) to absorb moisture and add some porosity (increase airflow).
- If flies or animals are being attracted to the pile, make sure no meat or dairy products have been added to the pile.
- Compost piles generate heat, but if you find the pile is steaming it may be too hot. This can happen if there are not enough brown materials (leaves). Check the moisture content of the compost and add water if needed.
Your compost is ready when the texture is dark and crumbly and it has a pleasant earth-like smell. It is a good idea to sift your compost to remove any larger pieces of material (like sticks).
Flower & Vegetable Gardens: Spread 1-2 inches of compost over the garden and mix it in to a depth of 6 - 8 inches with a rotary tiller (or similar).
Lawns: Before seeding, compost can be applied the same as above. It is a good maintenance practice to top dress your lawn annually in the spring or fall. This can be done before or after core aeration. Rake the compost into the aeration holes.
You can also add compost to potting soil 1:3 compost to soil ratio.
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