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With a compost heap, gardeners take an important step towards self-sufficiency. The natural process of composting provides the garden landscape with humus as a nutrient and fertiliser. If you follow the right steps when creating the composting area, you can quickly use the rich compost soil.
create compost
Compost improves plant growth and retains moisture in the garden soil. In addition, the soil is well aerated by the humus and supports many useful soil organisms. It is therefore worth creating the compost, which can be set up quickly in just a few steps with the right instructions. In this way, waste from the kitchen and garden is sensibly recycled.
1. Location
First of all, a suitable location for the compost heap in the garden must be selected so that the composting can be successful. If the selected location is too sheltered from the wind, the compost cannot aerate properly and signs of rot will appear very quickly. The rot leads to unpleasant odors and attracts unwanted animals. If the compost heap is too close to the neighboring property, the neighbors may feel disturbed. In addition, the compost must not be permanently exposed to the blazing sun, otherwise it would heat up too much. In addition, the compost heap must never be placed on concrete slabs, tiles or stone. If the subsoil is solid, the decomposing microorganisms have no way of getting into the compost. In addition, in this case waterlogging would form constantly, which also leads to rot.
- Partially shaded locations are ideal
- More shade is needed in hotter regions
- Places under trees and bushes are good
- Elder bushes and hazel bushes support composting
- Ensure good wind ventilation
- However, protect against strong gusts of wind
- Good accessibility is important, on foot and by wheelbarrow
- Make compost directly on the ground
- The substrate must be water-permeable to prevent waterlogging
- Always build compost heaps in the same location
- Then soil organisms work faster and more efficiently
notice: If it is a thermal composter, then it even has to be in full sun.
2. Construction
When constructing the compost heap, the gardener has a variety of materials to choose from. These primarily include wood, plastic and metal, from which the containers are made. These materials differ greatly in terms of properties and optical attributes. Which variant is ultimately preferred should depend on the intended use and the amount of compost. For those who are in a hurry to compost, there is a thermal composter precisely. This particular compost bin must have sufficient capacity or the rotting will not proceed particularly efficiently. It is very important to cover the containers, especially in rainy areas. In addition, the composters should consist of at least two, or even better three bins, to speed up and simplify composting, turning and layering. Depending on the space available, the compost heaps can even be several meters long.
- Thermal composters are inexpensive
- Containers can be assembled and disassembled quickly
- Capacity should be at least 200 l
- Models with a discharge flap are very practical
- Wooden composters are very classic
- You can build it yourself from pallets, for example
- Metal composters are easy to maintain and will not rot
- A width of 1.20 m and a height of 80 cm is optimal
- Adjust the length to the space available
- Capacity should correspond to the size of the garden
3. Create layers
The kitchen and garden waste for the compost heap should be stacked so that the sides slope down. In this way, the moisture can drain off better and there is no waterlogging, which leads to rot. Large-format heaps with many layers are particularly suitable for very large gardens in which a lot of material is constantly being produced. It is important to create and layer the compost heap correctly so that the nutrients are optimally composed. As a rule, however, not so many different raw materials accumulate at the same time. Therefore, these materials should be collected to gradually build up the compost heap. Over time, the appropriate soil life settles, which converts the newly created compost. What is important is a layer that already contains the required microorganisms and microorganisms to quickly start the rotting process.
- Place the first layer of compost directly on the garden soil
- Coarse material is ideal for the bottom layer
- Chopped branches, hedge clippings and twigs are well suited
- This creates enough oxygen on the ground for decomposition
- Second layer consists of denser material
- Offers the decomposers better attack surfaces
- Garden and kitchen waste is ideal for this
- Create a third layer of mature compost
- Either add some of the old compost
- Or ask the neighbors to do so when creating a new one
- Alternatively, garden soil can be applied as a third layer
- Then repeat subsequent layers in the same order
4. Relocate
Transplanting allows for even rotting to be achieved. This improves the end result considerably and makes it available much more quickly. This additional work step is particularly worthwhile in newly created gardens where there is not yet that much compost to process. The compost heap should not be stored for more than a year, otherwise rotting and bad smells may occur. However, after the first heat phase, the compost must cool down significantly before it can be turned over.
- Turn over compost regularly
- This makes it possible to quickly obtain usable compost
- Carry out after three to six weeks at the earliest
- This work is compulsory at least once a year
- Bring outside layers inside
- Shift inner layers to the outside
tip: It is best to turn over the compost in February to use the freshly extracted humus in the spring for sowing vegetables, fruit and other plants.
5. Moisture
The soil organisms in the compost heap depend on moisture, otherwise the compost heap will dry up and the rotting process will stagnate. However, the compost must not be too wet either, as in this case not enough oxygen can get inside the heap. As a result, it rots and stinks. The gardener must therefore always be careful in this regard and possibly intervene to regulate it. If the inner workings of the various layers of compost feel like a squeezed out sponge, then the compost pile has sufficient moisture content.
- Always keep the compost evenly moist
- Check the moisture in the compost heap regularly
- Stacked materials must not dry out
- Water too dry compost from time to time
- Transplant too wet compost directly
- Mix in soil and dry materials
- Always cover compost heaps in regions with a lot of rainfall
- Rain protection must be permeable to air
6. Oxygen
Aerobic bacteria are extremely important for the compost heap. However, these bacteria die if they don't get enough oxygen. In this case, anaerobic bacteria become more prevalent, and the compost then becomes stinky and begins to rot. Therefore, when creating compost, care must be taken to ensure that the layers are not applied too thickly. Otherwise, no more oxygen can get inside the compost heap. However, no large cavities should form there, so as not to hinder the soil organisms in their work. Therefore, bulky garden waste must always be properly shredded.
- Always make sure there is sufficient air supply inside
- Oxygen prevents fetid rot
- Apply all layers loosely, never compact
- No layer should be more than 20 cm thick
- Maximum height of the compost heap is 1.30 m
- Do not apply extremely wet grass clippings
- Apply only a thin layer of clay and manure
- Mix in loose materials, including twigs and straw
7. Materials
The rotting process leads to the formation of new nutrient cycles, the starting materials are processed by soil organisms into nutrient-rich humus. Organic waste from the garden and kitchen can be disposed of on a compost heap. This creates a natural fertilizer that is harmless to the environment and people. However, not all types of waste should end up in the compost. The choice of materials is crucial for a healthy composition. In addition, the chronological sequence for moving and applying the layers must be correct.
- Vegetable and fruit waste is ideal, as is egg shells
- Coffee filters and tea bags work well
- Sawdust, litter and straw also belong in the compost
- Cutting trees, lawns and bushes forms the ideal basis
- Citrus fruits are unsuitable, as are ashes and cat litter
- Dispose of glass, plastic and metal in the trash only
- Diseased parts of the plant disrupt the ripening process
- Animal leftovers are also prohibited
