Slow composting is the easiest way to compost yard wastes.
What happens to the green waste that is collected from our homes?
Waste Management takes residential green waste to a compost facility in Irvine where it is placed in heaped rows called windrows to cure for 120 days. The result is organic compost that is sold to private companies and the public. Tierra Verde returns 50 yards of compost to the community every other year. Residents can take compost home in their own containers in the spring of even numbered years. To contact Tierra Verde, call (949) 551-0363.
If you compost weeds with seeds, will they survive and re-sprout?
It is best to compost weeds before they go to seed. Some seeds can survive temperatures up to 140? F, and even a well made hot compost pile may not reach these temperatures uniformly throughout the pile.
How are weeds such as morning glory, crab grass, buttercup, ivy roots, and blackberries composted?
Plants that propagate vegetatively should be very thoroughly dried in the sun and then used as a compost ingredient. Or they should be composted alone and covered with black plastic to sit for as much as two years.
Can vacuum dust be composted?
Yes. However, fibers from synthetic carpeting will not decompose (but they will probably not be noticeable in the finished compost).
Should diseased materials be used to make compost?
As a general rule, it is best to not compost diseased plant materials because of the chance of re-infecting your garden.
Is it good practice to add wood ashes while making a compost pile?
Most soils in California have a basic PH and since wood ashes are basic, they probably should not be added to the compost pile. However, if mostly high nitrogen material is used especially in a closed-bin system, the composting mass is likely to become acidic, and wood ashes can be added to help neutralize the compost.
Can pet wastes be composted?
We recommend against composting pet wastes because of potential disease and parasite transmission.
Can bones and meat scraps be composted? Can fish bones be buried?
There is too much potential for pest problems, so we do not recommend composting or burying these materials.
Can fleece be composted?
Natural fibers including fleece, cotton, hemp and burlap be all composted.
Can yard wastes of unknown origin be safely composted without concern over potential herbicides?
No. Lawn clippings with herbicides on them may kill garden plants if used as a mulch or "young" compost. If herbicide use is suspected, materials should be thoroughly composted in hot piles and allowed to cure for several months before using in the garden.
What kind of wood chips/sawdust is best for composting?
The chips or dust of deciduous, hardwood trees are best for making compost. Cedar can have inhibitory substances and the sawdust from pressure-treated, pressed wood or plywood contains various toxic materials. We do not recommend their use in compost.
Can coffee filters and teabags be composted?
Yes. Any untreated paper product may be composted. Worms love coffee grounds and filters, as well as teabags. Don't try to compost treated papers such as glossy magazines or photographs, waxed paper, and certain copy papers.
Can you compost if you just have kitchen wastes, no yard wastes?
Yes, if shredded and mixed well with other materials. Shredded newspaper can also be used as a bedding for redworms.
Should pine needles be composted separately?
No. Pine needles break down slower than many other wastes, but they do not pose any problems in the compost or garden.
What tools can be used to chip woody wastes? How do you know what size to use?
Machete: Green or woody vegetable stalks.
Lawn Mower: Leaves and twigs up to 1/8" diameter.
5 H.P. Gas Shredder: twigs and branches up to 2" diameter
Commercial Shredder (8+ H.P.): branches over 2" diameter
How do you use a rotary mower to shred materials?
Rotary mowers work best on dry materials that are not too woody. It is best to use it on a hard, level surface and blowing the materials against a wall works well.
Do I need to add fertilizer to my garden if I use compost?
Compost is classified as a soil conditioner rather than a fertilizer, but it can contain a good range of major and minor plant nutrients plus trace elements essential for healthy plant growth. Some methods of composting produce a more nutrient rich material than others.
Should I wear gloves when handling compost?
As long as pet wastes are excluded, gloves are not necessary for handling composted yard or kitchen wastes.
Do I need a bin to make compost?
No. Yard waste compost can be made in open piles. However, bins help keep piles neat, retain heat better and are appropriate for many urban situations.
How do you know when the compost is finished?
When it has become dark, loose, and crumbly; and if in a hot pile, when it does not reheat upon turning. Sift out unfinished material if aesthetics are important.
What should I do if my compost smells like ammonia?
An ammonia smell can be caused by several factors, including too much nitrogen, too much alkalinity, and too much moisture. Turn the pile and add absorbent, high carbon material ("browns"), especially acidic materials such as sawdust or dry oak leaves.
What is the difference between compost and yard wastes?
Compost is decomposed organic material that can be mixed with soil to improve it. Mulches are materials used on top of the soil to suppress weeds, hold moisture, prevent erosion and as an attractive groundcover. Compost and shredded yard waste make excellent organic mulches.
What do you do about a neighbor who complains about composting even though it doesn't smell?
Set a good example by keeping your compost system as neat as possible. Explain the benefits of composting every chance you get. Tell them why you do it and how it works for you - they will catch on eventually.
Why should I compost? Why shouldn't organic wastes go to the landfill?
Organic materials are a valuable resource when composted or used as mulches in the yard. Organic materials improve soil and plant health, prevent erosion, and hold moisture and nutrients in the soil. In a landfill, decaying organic materials create methane gas that pollutes the air and poses an explosive danger. Yard wastes in landfills also combine with other materials and create toxic leachate that may contaminate groundwater. Backyard composting is also much less expensive than sending wastes to the landfill or centralized composting facilities.
