Compost Garden Soil: Everything You Should Know

Composting your kitchen scraps can result in a high-quality soil amendment that will help your plants flourish. Best of all, it’s easy and free!


If you’re not sure where to start, you’re in the right place.


Join us as we discuss the magical solution you can make in your own backyard. 

What is compost?

You’ve probably seen bags packed full of compost at your local garden center. Compost is a nutrient-rich soil created by the decomposition of organic matter, like food scraps, plant matter, and other natural materials. It’s a powerful soil amendment that you can make with waste that would otherwise go in the trash.


Here’s a closer look at the process.

Are there different kinds of compost?

The most common type of compost is made with household waste, leaf litter, and other readily available ingredients. However, many farmers make compost from livestock manure. Additionally, some in the agricultural industry grow certain crops to make “green manure.’ Finally, you can make vermicompost by creating a thriving habitat for earthworms, which form a highly potent soil with their excrement.

How do you compost?

Creating compost for your vegetable garden requires patience and intention.


Instead of tossing food scraps into the trash, dedicate a shady, dry, well-draining part of your yard to building your soil amendment. If you create a small amount of waste, you might consider throwing your scraps into a plastic bag and storing it in the freezer until full.


Successful composting requires a specific ratio of carbon and nitrogen. Generally, you want to aim for 20 to 30 parts carbon-based materials, such as dried leaves, to one part nitrogen (fresh produce).


Water and oxygen are the other two elements of compost. Regularly turn or blend your pile using a pitchfork or large shovel. This exposes more of the materials to fresh air and speeds up the process. You might also need to spray it with water depending on the climate and how much sunlight it gets


You should notice the pile putting off heat–that’s how you know it’s working! Check the temperature occasionally using a meat thermometer to ensure it reads between 110 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long does compost take to make?

It can take anywhere from two weeks to two years to fully compost your kitchen scraps. Of course, this depends on the size of your pile, what you put in it, and the environmental conditions. Regularly turning it speeds up the decomposition process, so you’ll have ready-to-use compost sooner than you might expect. You’ll know it’s ready when it has stopped giving off heat and has broken down substantially.

What can you compost?

You can compost many items that all contribute different nutrients to the finished product. Here are a few of the top ingredients to add to your recipe.

Produce scraps

Most people probably think of produce scraps when composting comes to mind. The stems and skins of fruits and vegetables provide much of the nitrogen required for successful composting. 


Be sure these items are fresh or frozen rather than cooked or otherwise processed. 

Coffee grounds

If you’re a coffee drinker, you might toss out a lot of grounds each day. Fortunately,

coffee grounds in filter

you can throw them in your compost bin along with biodegradable filters. Nutrient-rich coffee grounds can aerate your soil and attract beneficial insects to your garden as they break down.

Dry leaves

Dry leaves and other dead plant matter from your yard are great additions to the compost pile because they add a healthy dose of carbon. As they decompose, they also release other nutrients into the compost, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are all essential for your garden soil.

Eggshells

Eggshells are another additive you’ll want to mix into your compost for a happy organic garden. They release a steady supply of calcium, as well as magnesium and potassium. Consider giving them a rinse before tossing them in the pile.

What shouldn’t be composted?

Be sure you don’t put any dairy, animal bones, pet feces, or kitty litter in your compost mixture. These items can cause a foul smell, attract pests, and introduce harmful bacteria into the mix. Additionally, any diseased plant parts and yard debris treated with chemical fertilizers should be thrown in the trash so they don’t contaminate your compost soil.

Composting benefits

In addition to being an eco-friendly and economical way to feed your plants, composting offers many other benefits. Here are a few of the perks.

Soil health improvement

You already know that food scraps and leaf litter provide valuable nutrients to your garden soil, but once these items are composted, they can also help improve your soil structure as well. Best of all, you get these advantages without the need for chemical fertilizers and other synthetic solutions.

Plants absorb more nutrients

Adding organic compost to your garden doesn’t just mean that your soil contains more nutrients. It also allows your plants to take in more nutrients. Calcium can fortify the cell walls of your plants, potassium allows your plants to retain more water, and magnesium boosts photosynthesis. Together, these natural soil amendments do a world of good for your garden. 

Compost reduces waste

When you make your own compost, you reduce the amount of trash you have to send to the landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food scraps and garden waste like leaf litter make up about 28% of trash in the US. Moreover, landfill emissions are a significant source of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. 

Contact Whitwam Organics about compost!

At Whitwam Organics, we’re committed to helping your garden thrive! We can help you learn how to create your own compost through residential and commercial consultations. And if you’re not ready to start composting on your own, we offer a high-grade blend of compost and garden soil in bulk for your garden beds! 


Contact us today to see how we can help your garden grow!


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