When choosing to create compost, it is important to keep in mind that producing a high-quality product takes time. It cannot be created overnight. How long the procedure will really take is dependent on a number of variables. According to some specialists, any time between a few months and three years is appropriate.
Essentially, if you are actively involved in the process, it will take just a few months to get the compost you want. On the other hand, if you just dump all components into a compost bin and forget about it, you may anticipate receiving useable compost after a couple of years. Let us examine it in depth.
Factors Affecting Composting Rates
- How long the whole composting process takes will be determined mainly by:
- The stage of compost ripening that you need
- The range of items that you place in the bin
- Your degree of involvement in the process (how many times you turn the pile)
- The surface area of the substance that was utilized.
- Your compost pile’s size
- Moisture content and aeration of your bin
- The kind of compost container you have
- Your bin’s location
Significant variables include the following:
Season
In practice, using the hotter bin speeds up the composting process. For instance, if you use a covered, plastic container filled with material that rots fast in a sunny location without adding new material and turns it a couple of times throughout the process, you will end up with useful compost at the end season.
If you are continuously adding material to your compost bin, you should avoid mixing it to prevent mingling partly decomposed waste with new components. If you choose a well-balanced combination, you may utilize your compost from the bottom within a few months.
Perhaps you could exercise patience and begin the procedure in the summer, waiting half a year to produce good compost in the autumn. If you begin the process in the autumn and fill your bin throughout the winter, be aware that you will likely be unable to get enough compost in the spring due to the sluggish rate of composting caused by cold weather.
Bin
The size of the compost bin you choose should be determined by the available space and your requirements, but keep in mind that bigger containers will always generate more heat. Additionally, they will hold the generated heat more effectively.
In other words, if you use a larger container, the composting process will be accelerated. If you only have room for a smaller bin, you should position it in a sunny location to produce useable compost more rapidly.
Regarding the material used to construct your compost bin, I can confirm that wooden bins do not retain heat as well as plastic bins. Additionally, you may anticipate the material’s edges drying, particularly on hot summer days. These materials will not decay effectively since bacteria thrive primarily in wet environments.
Material
You should be aware that not all materials degrade at the same rate. The ideal waste for rapid composting are the following:
- Annual weeds – grass leaves and roots in your garden
- Lemon and orange peels decay rapidly.
- Vegetable plants and trimmings — Compostable materials include outside leaves, carrot tops, and pea pods. Avoid, however, cabbage, peach, and avocado stones.
- Lawn mowing – Avoid applying more than 20cm of these materials at a time. The only stipulation is that you refrain from using herbicides on your grass.
Consolidating The Content
How often you flip the compostable material has a direct effect on the aeration of the pile’s core. This step is critical because of the bacteria that compost needs air. Always bear in mind that aerating your material more often can expedite the process.
The bad news is that mixing the pile may be very time consuming and laborious. Additionally, combining fresh components with decaying ones may alter the process, requiring additional time to get usable compost. This implies you will very certainly need another container for new items.
Purchasing an appropriate composter, in my view, may be a prudent decision if your home generates a lot of trash. This will expedite and enhance the procedure.
How Fast Different Wastes Decompose
One of the most critical points to remember is that you should always choose specific components based on how quickly you want useable compost. Additionally, the ideal choice is to include both green and brown components. In this manner, you will end up with the most robust final product imaginable.
Waste that decomposes within six months:
- Weeds That Grow Every Year
- Leaves that are still green
- Heads of flowers
- Peeled Fruit
- Leaves of vegetables
- Trimmings from vegetables
- Cereals and bread
- grinds for coffee
- Leaves of tea
- Tea pouches
- Vintage wine
- Herbs and spices from the past
- slender stems
- Clippings of grass
- Pet food that is not wet
- Pristine (from a vacuum cleaner)
You may estimate that it will take up to two years to get useable compost if you utilize the following:
- Herbaceous plant stems
- Autumn foliage
- After trimming and cutting, you get a soft, green hedge.
- Nettle
- Cardboard and matte-finish paper
- Towel paper
- cartons d’oeufs
- Toilet paper rolls
- Vintage silk, cotton, and woolen garments, linen, and towels
- Certain wastes take up to three years to decompose:
- Shavings and chips of wood
- Needles and cones of pine
- Stems of ivy
- Needles of conifers and evergreen leaves
- Branches of wood
- Eggshells
- Grass cuttings alone
- Fire Pits with avocados, plums, and peaches
- Corks for Wine
- Toothpicks
Regardless of the content, one rule is always valid. The more components you cut, the quicker you will get compost.
Composting Ingredients to Avoid
Whether you need compost immediately or can wait a year or two for it to develop properly, there are some elements that you should avoid adding to the compost pile entirely:
Avoid adding animal items such as meat, fish, dairy, fats, and bones, since they may likely ‘overheat’ the compost pile.
Organic matter that is difficult to decompose — Avoid includes blackberry and raspberry brambles, thick branches, and long twigs in your compost, as they will significantly slow down its decomposition.
Coal ash – While cigarette ash and wood ash may be used with other compostable materials, you should avoid coal ash. It is not safe for your plants since it includes an excessive amount of iron and sulfur.
Colored paper – Because colored inks have a high concentration of hazardous elements, including heavy metals, you should avoid composting colored paper such as newspaper.
Pet droppings – You should be aware that pet droppings, particularly those of cats and dogs, often carry disease germs that may contaminate your compost. It is safer to keep them out of the compost pile.
Diseased plants — If you add diseased plants to your compost pile, you run the danger of spreading illness throughout your yard.
Inorganic materials — These are all non-biodegradable materials (metals, glass, aluminum, or plastics). It is completely pointless to include them in the compost pile. Additionally, avoid pressure-treated timber due to the possibly hazardous chemicals used in this treatment.
Synthetic chemicals – All herbicides and pesticides are toxic and should not be combined with compost material.
The Effect Of Composting Methods On Composting Speed
Once you have decided to begin composting your trash, it is important to understand that the technique you choose will influence how long it takes to produce the first useable material. Let us examine.
- Turning Point — A Twenty-Day Process
This is the ideal technique if you need finished compost quickly. However, be aware that this technique is very strenuous in comparison to other frequently utilized ways. To begin, the compost pile should be at least 3′x3′ (0.90.9 m) in size.
Additionally, you must maintain the correct proportions (30:1) of brown to green material, which defines the carbon to nitrogen ratio. Additionally, you should cut all components into one-inch pieces (2.5 cm).
For the first week, rotate the pile every day. Attempt to alternate it every other day for the following two weeks. In this manner, the final compost will be ready in about three weeks.
- Slow No Turn Process – Three to Twelve Months
This is perhaps the simplest method to get high-quality compost in a reasonable amount of time. Create a mound in your yard and gradually add all of your household trash. The duration of the process is closely related to the kind of material utilized, as well as the moisture and temperature of the pile.
To produce high-quality compost in three to four months, a strong carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (between 20:1 and 100:1) is required. Otherwise, the decomposition process may take up to a year.
- Worm Bin – A Process That Takes Between One and Three Months
If you select this method of composting, you will need to create enough population of worms. The more of them you have, the quicker the process of composting will be.
After three months of establishing the worms, you will have useable compost. Later, when the worm population reaches it’s maximum (often after nine months), you will have compost in less than a month.
- Three-Week Process for Flying a Black Soldier
Nowadays, there is a novel method of obtaining compost that involves the use of black army fly larvae. They are preferable to worms because they operate fast and can withstand a range of temperatures. Additionally, when you utilize them, you may compost dairy products and meat.
The wonderful part is that the larvae grow fat as they consume your trash, making them a fantastic source of animal feed for your hens. After about three weeks, depending on the quantity of trash and the number of utilized larvae, you may anticipate great compost.
External Factors Affecting the Decomposition Rate of Compost
Be aware that many external variables will influence the breakdown process of your compost. Among the most critical are the following:
Temperature – Perhaps you should periodically check the temperature of your compost pile using a thermometer. The truth is that bacteria thrive when the temperature within your compost pile is warmer than the surrounding air.
On average, you may anticipate the following:
The pile’s temperature should be between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 and 48.9 degrees Celsius) during the summer, while the outside temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7 degrees Celsius).
When the temperature outside is 30 F (-1 C), the temperature of the pile should be 40 F (4.5 C).
When the temperature within the pile begins to fall, it is time to turn it. When your compost pile stops heating up after turning, you will know it is almost done.
A material’s density – You should be aware that the density of the materials you use to create compost has a direct effect on the rate of decomposition. This implies that if you add more thick wood fibers, you will have to wait longer to get useable compost.
Size and form of the material — Depending on how quickly you want your compost to complete, you should cut or chop the spent material. The more tiny bits you put into the pile, the sooner your compost will be ready to use.
The degree to which the substance is added —
Constantly replenishing your composter with new material can delay the composting process. I suggest that you utilize a minimum of two bins. One for ready-to-use compost, and another for daily additions of new material. This will expedite and streamline the procedure.
Composting techniques and technology have a significant impact on the breakdown process. For instance, hot compost tumblers accelerate this process by promoting the development of bacteria that generate heat.
Conclusion
Composting should be a part of your daily life. In this manner, you will preserve the environment by minimizing trash while also enriching your plants with essential nutrients.
How quickly you get high-quality compost for your garden is dependent on a number of variables, including the kind of materials added to the pile and its quantity. Additionally, your efforts will influence the process’s pace. Turning the pile on a regular basis will accelerate and improve the rate of decomposition.