Composting is Good for Your Garden and the Environment

To view the catalog listing for this title, go to this URL: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=8367. Let us know if you have any trouble viewing, downloading, or printing the publication.

Some key tips about composting this time of year include:

• Keep compost piles evenly moist but not wet.
• Use a mixture of materials such that they are about 50:50 green waste (lawn clippings, kitchen waste, shredded yard waste) to dry brown organic matter (dry leaves, shredded newspapers, brown plant debris etc.)
• Turn the pile often for faster breakdown into garden ready compost. Daily to weekly is best.
• Once your compost pile grows to about 3x3x3 ft square, don't add any more to it.  Start a new pile instead.  Allow your first pile to break down completely.
• Once your materials are composted completely, incorporate it into your garden beds, top dress  your lawn, add to container plants or use as a mulch around your trees.