Garden will thank you if you figure out easy steps involved in creating rich compost

Compost could be considered a gardener’s best friend. The humus produced from the decaying organic matter works like magic, turning our clay soils into rich soil improving the garden.

All organic debris breaks down with the help of naturally occurring fungi, bacteria and a host of other hard-working decomposing organisms. Composting is a natural process but has a bad rap for being difficult. People say it is too complicated and doesn’t work. Composting does require some effort to create an environment that supports decomposers.

Successful composting clicked for me when I changed my mindset. Don’t think of the pile as being dead but alive. Like all living organisms, compost needs food, water and air. Provide these basics for life and the process of composting is easy.

Feed me

The best food for decomposers is decaying plant debris. This time of year, the most common debris is leaves and other soft plant tissue. Woody stems and branches are more of a challenge. Any dried or dead plant material is referred to as the browns. Browns contain carbon and are the bulk of the material that breaks down over time.

The food source is referred to as the greens and will contain nitrogen. The nitrogen provides the energy for the decomposers to feed on the browns, creating compost. Because our landscapes generate more browns than greens, compost systems typically lack the green source.

Correcting this issue is simple. Introduce nitrogen into the pile with high nitrogen fertilizers, inorganic or organic, such as composted animal manures. When adding new materials or maintaining the pile, throw in a handful or two of these sources to give the decomposers a snack, speeding up the process.

Water sustains life

Water is the staple of life, including for the lifecycle of a compost pile. Quench the thirst of the decomposers by keeping the heap of material damp. Once the pile dries out, the decomposers pause feeding, go dormant and basically stop the composting process.

The browns are dry and not inviting for feeding. Wet these materials from top to bottom when adding to the system. Ensuring the materials are wet and nitrogen is spread throughout the heap gives the pile a jump start. When the pile dries out, add more water.

Air to breathe

Decomposers require oxygen for survival. You will know if the pile lacks oxygen because it will have an odor. If the material becomes compacted, oxygen is excluded and a rotting smell develops.

The good news is getting air into the pile is simple. Broken leaves and plant debris mixtures are full of small pores and air spaces. Turn the pile to break up the organic matter, create pore space and allow the oxygen to return.

Put composting into terms of what you need for survival. If it is thirsty, give it a drink. If it has plenty of water but lacks food, feed with additional nitrogen. Finally, add some fresh air to breathe. By meeting these needs, you keep organic materials out of the waste stream while making rich compost for the garden.

Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.