Comments on: Where to Place Your Compost Pile or Bin

By: Shari

Shari — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:46:41 +0000

Thanks Steve – that’s exactly what I was looking for!

By: steve

steve — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:31:20 +0000

@Shari, You would likely want to till in 3 inches of compost to the existing soil. You would need just over 50 yards of compost to achieve this.

By: Shari

Shari — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:39:36 +0000

We have a neighborhood garden about 70′x80 and we need to add compost before planting in the spring. We have started a compost pile, but I don’t think we will have much ready to use this spring, so we will need to purchase some. Can anyone give me an idea of how to figure out how much we will need? Thanks!

By: lars

lars — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:04:44 +0000

@Erin

You can compost with mostly nitrogen and hardly any carbon. It just isn’t quite as quick or effective to compost that way. Since you are in the high desert, the nitrogen rich stuff should dry out and probably won’t cause bad smells like too much nitrogen can cause in wetter areas. You can add some shredded newspaper for carbon in a pinch, but don’t overdo it.

In the end, everything decomposes. So if you can’t get the perfect mix of carbon and nitrogen, you’ll still be okay.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:38:39 +0000

We have just purchased a composte bin. We live in a high desert area and have no grass, few leaves and few pine needles. What can we use for the carbon component of the mix? Thank you.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:51:18 +0000

Jim, The gnats might be fruit flies, they’re harmless but annoying. When adding fruit scraps be sure to bury them deep within your compost and to keep it well mixed (aerated).

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:05:15 +0000

I have a compost tumbler tyre and one bin has garden and household cuttings from various produce and there seems to be a lot on small nats in the bin what’s wrong?

By: Ellen Paulson

Ellen Paulson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:10:31 +0000

Thank you so much for this great info…you have really set my mind at ease!

By: lars

lars — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:27:32 +0000

@Ellen

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Roundup is designed to become inert after it hits the soil, unless you are using that “extended” formula that has a different herbicide in it. So if you have waited a couple of days, it should be no problem at all, assuming it’s regular Roundup.

Also, compost can actually be used to remediate contaminated soil, as studied by the EPA.
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/composting/pubs/analysis.txt

Grass won’t grow into the composter, because it is dark in there and grass likes full sun. You can use a weedeater around the edge of the bin to keep grass from growing tall around it.

By: Ellen Paulson

Ellen Paulson — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:38:25 +0000

Hello. My husband was trying to be helpful and sprayed some Round-Up on the area I am going to put my compositor (open on the bottom) to kill the Bermuda/St. Augustine grass it will sit on. I was horrified and now scared to put my compositor in this spot because I fear contamination from the round-up. Is that a valid concern? If so, what do you recommend I do to clean up the area…if it’s possible! Also, how concerned do I have to be to have it sit on grass–was thinking the grass would grow into the compost.
Thanks!