Make a Compost Bin in Minutes
If you think composting is a bunch of garbage, think again. By collecting yard and kitchen waste you’d toss anyway, you can create a nutrient-rich, organic material that works wonders when added as a fertilizer, mulch or conditioner for garden beds and lawns. It can even be used as potting soil in planters. As a soil amendment, compost can boost the health of your plants and grass. And, mixing compost into soil can help improve drainage when there’s a lot of clay, or help sandy soil retain moisture after watering. Finally, you’ll feel better knowing you’re putting your waste to good use on your land, rather than adding it to landfills. 
To bin or not to bin?
While some people simply find a place in their yard for a compost pile, collecting your yard and kitchen waste in a compost container is far tidier – not to mention cheap and easy. All you need is a metal trashcan or plastic container and you’re half way there. Air circulation is essential for good decomposition of the waste material, so you’ll need to punch or drill holes along the sides and top of the container you choose to allow for proper airflow.
What lies beneath the compost bin.
Afraid collecting waste will be stinky or attract pests? If you do it correctly, it’s
not so. Nutritious material that breaks down fastest is a balance of green garden debris (like grass clippings, old annuals or deadheaded flowers) and brown garden debris (dry leaves and twigs). Kitchen compost, such as coffee grounds, tea bags, stale bread products, grains, eggshells and fruit and vegetable scraps are also great for adding nutritional value. What you should avoid are materials such as animal waste, meats, oils and dairy products. Depending on your constitution, you could add a bit of the “eek factor” by making worm bin compost. This means housing worms in your bin, which gets things moving as they consume and process materials in the compost bin. Fact is, worm “poo” is extremely nutrient rich. If you decide do this, you’ll want to make a nice home for the creepy crawlers by adding shredded newspaper to your compost bin.
Promoting the composting.
To promote the decomposition of you compost goods, moisture and air are key. About once a week, water the contents just enough to get it moist – not wet. Then, prevent compaction and get things circulating by stirring the materials from the outside in, about weekly.
You’ll know when your compost is ready to use when the contents are no longer recognizable. Typically, this can take one to six months. Keep your composting routine going, and you’ll always be ready to give your landscape the healthy treat it needs to thrive.
