To Compost or Not, Is it worth it ?

Question

Just recently moved to a new house, it's a heavely wooded area (South East Tx). I get tons of leaves and pine needles in my yard. I was thinking of building a compost bin for the leaves and grass clippings, but I have a few questions. How long does it usually take to have some useable material ? Also, does it create an oder ? Are leaves and grass clippings enough ? Is it better to build your own or buy a bin from a garden center ?

Answer 1

It can take a short time or a long time, depending on the type of composter you use and the method it uses. There's cold and warm composting - warm composting is quicker. If you use the proper materials and tend the composter/bin appropriately there should be no odor. Leaves and grass clippings are good, but you need other things besides just nitrogen for a healthy compost bin:
http://www.compostguide.com/

I wouldn't recommend putting the pine needles in the composter as this will raise the acidity level, plus they make such nice mulch all by themselves.

You can build your own (pallets can be used, just about anything) or buy one. The ones that produce quicker compost are purchased/enclosed plastic containers. They are also the easiest to deal with and maintain.

Happy composting - you'll end up with all sorts of good results.

Answer 2

We built our own compost bins because we could do it cheaper than purchasing one. Certain things to keep in mind like air flow, critter, etc.

You need the correct mix of materials in the compost for it to break down properly - brown and green materials. I put all my kitchen scraps in to compost as well - no meat products though. Also grass clippings, leaves and some ash from burning yard debris. I'll throw in some manure if available as well. Pine needles can be too acidic depending on what you want to use the copost for.

All the materials should be turned well when new material is added, or on a regular basis, whichever is sooner. Again, done properly, there shouldn't be an odor. If any smell it should be a sweet smell like fresh dirt.

There's a really good book I purchased - Rodale Book of Composting. It has everything from what and what not to compost, different methods, building versus purchasing bins, everything!

Answer 3

The Rodale book is a great one, I have three compost bins going all year and they do not get turned but once in the Spring. I put all clippings, leaves, old dead plants, kitchen peelings (no meat or dairy) into the bin. NOW i have placed my latest pile right under the first story deck so that my teens can take the compost out and just toss it over the deck, instead of whining "It's so FAAAAR to the compost!"

At the end of the second year of sitting (these bins sit on pallets and are made of a cylinder of heavy duty fence wire (dropped of back of lorry!) standing on end, on the pallet), the resultant brown mess is gorgeous and adds valuable nutrients to the ground. My plants love it. I am organic and this is so superior to 10-10-10 or any other chemical.

Answer 4

Our county offers composters at a reduced rate to encourage composting, check to see if such a program exists where you are. It's really fun to compost, almost magic! Presto, chango! Leaves, old produce, shredded paper, coffee grounds, vacuum cleaner contents, fireplace ashes all merge to form the most wonderful, wet compost for your garden. If you want it to look really great you can put it through a homemade sieve made of chicken wire (the small kind).
To keep it from smelling have some dry material on hand to cover produce and coffee grounds.