Composting Tips for September: What to Add and What to Avoid

Ah , September — the perfect time to give your compost pile some love ! As the garden starts to twist down , you might find yourself with an copiousness of industrial plant material , fallen leaves , and kitchen scraps . It ’s so satisfying to eff that all these leftovers can be turned into rich , nutritious compost that will feed your garden next time of year . But permit ’s be reliable : composting can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming . What can you throw away in ? What should you stave off ? I ’ve been there , staring at my compost pile and enquire if that confutable item will help or hinder my effort . The good news is , with a few unproblematic baksheesh , you may check that your compost pile stays balanced and productive , turn all those spill trimmings into gardening gold .

Composting is more than just toss scraps into a pile — it ’s about creating the right conditions for those materials to bust down efficiently . By add the right ingredients and annul the wrong ones , you ’ll speed up the decomposition unconscious process and terminate up with that dark , crumbly compost that plant love . Plus , composting is a grotesque way to reduce thriftlessness , enrich your soil , and draw beneficial dirt ball like wiggler that help aerate the grunge . So , let ’s dig into some composting crest that will have your pile thriving this September !

Add: Fallen Leaves

One of the near things about September is the abundance of fallen leaves , and they are an absolute gem for your compost mound ! leaf are rich in atomic number 6 , an all-important ingredient that help balance the atomic number 7 in your compost and continue it from becoming a slimy , smelly mess . I make out adding leaves to my compost because they break down beautifully and tot up a lovely texture to the finished product . Plus , they ’re free and justly there in your backyard — speak about a win - win !

When sum up leafage to your compost , it ’s a estimable idea to chop up them up a bit with a mower or shredder if you may . This help them break down faster and prevents them from matting together , which can slow down the composting mental process . And do n’t occupy about adding leaves from trees like oak or maple — they’re not invasive and wo n’t harm your compost . Just ensure to mix them well with green materials like dope clippings or kitchen scraps to keep everything balanced . A pile full of leaves is a happy chain reactor , and come spring , you ’ll have rich , fluffy compost that your flora will love .

Avoid: Diseased Plants

I recognise how tantalising it can be to toss everything from the garden into the compost , peculiarly when you ’re trying to clean up after a busy growing season . But it ’s important to reject adding any diseased plant to your chain reactor . I ’ve pick up this the hard way of life — those sneaky pathogens can survive the composting process if your megabucks does n’t get hot enough , and the last thing you want is to spread those diseases all over your garden next year ! It ’s such a bummer when you think you ’re doing everything right-hand , only to find your plants struggling again with the same issue .

rather , it ’s best to dispose of diseased plant life in the trash or through municipal green waste programs where they ’ll be processed at higher temperature . If you ’re diligent about keeping morbid cloth out of your compost , you ’ll be rewarded with healthy , nutrient - fertile compost that supports vivacious plant growth rather than perpetuating problems . commemorate , a healthy compost pile starts with good for you ingredients , so it ’s worth being a piddling particular about what goes in .

Add: Grass Clippings

Grass clippings are a fantastic accession to your compost pile , especially in September when the lawn is still growing strong . They ’re rich in N , which is essential for creating the heat that helps your compost break dance down efficiently . Whenever I mow the lawn , I ensure to collect the clipping and thrash about them decent into the pile . It ’s such an easy way to impart a alimentary hike without any extra effort ! Just be mindful of any chemical substance that might be on the sess — constitutive clippings are always the undecomposed choice to keep your compost chemical - free .

It ’s crucial to mix grass trimming with carbon copy - rich materials like leave or stalk to keep the compost balanced . If you dump a big stilt of clippings all at once , they can get slimy and start to smell , which is not exactly the vibe we ’re going for ! By layer them in with other material , you ’ll make the thoroughgoing environment for decomposition . Plus , locoweed clipping break down speedily , add worthful nutrients to your compost that will bung your garden in no time .

Avoid: Meat, Dairy, and Oils

When it comes to composting , not all kitchen scraps are created adequate . sum , dairy farm , and crude are better kept out of your compost pile . These items can attract pests like rodents and raccoon , and they run to break down slowly , creating unpleasant aroma that can make compost less pleasurable . Trust me , it ’s no fun to apportion with a smelly pile that ’s suddenly become a buffet for the local wildlife ! While it might seem like composting is a way to recycle all your food waste , these especial items are better off in the chalk or a consecrated food waste aggregation program .

Even if you ’re composting in a well - sealed bin , it ’s still a good idea to keep meat , dairy farm , and oils out . They can throw off the balance of your voltaic pile , precede to a slower decomposition process and a broken - quality compost . Instead , stick to plant - based kitchen scraps like fruit peels , vegetable trimmings , and coffee bean land , which go down beautifully and lend valuable nutrient to your compost . By maintain your slew vegetable - friendly , you ’ll have a much easygoing fourth dimension deal it and getting that rich , earthy compost that plants adore .

Add: Coffee Grounds

If you ’re a coffee buff like me , you ’ll be felicitous to recognize that those used java priming can be put to excellent exercise in your compost pile ! Coffee ground are a great germ of nitrogen and can help heat up your mountain , speed up the chemical decomposition reaction process . Plus , they ’re minor and easy to mix in , making them a convenient summation to your compost routine . I always get a little thrill out of adding chocolate grounds to my mound — it ’s like give my compost its own morning boost !

Not only do java grounds contribute nitrogen , but they also avail improve the structure of the finished compost , making it more crumbly and easy to function with . They ’re also known to pull earthworms , which are fantastic for aerating your compost and enhancing the crack-up of constitutive textile . If you do n’t produce enough coffee ground on your own , many coffee shop class are happy to give away their used land for gratis , so do n’t hesitate to ask ! Your compost pile will be all the dear for it .

Avoid: Weeds Gone to Seed

pot are a garden nuisance , and it ’s natural to want to thrash about them into the compost mass after pulling them up . However , it ’s important to avoid adding any weeds that have exit to cum , as this can introduce sess seeds into your compost . And allow ’s be actual — nobody want to spread weeds around their garden when they ’re essay to improve their territory ! I ’ve had my fair portion of declination from not paying attention to this detail , and it ’s no fun have to deal with a fresh batch of unwanted guests in your carefully tend beds .

If you ’re composting mourning band , check that they have n’t set seminal fluid yet . Weeds that have n’t get to seed can be compost safely , as long as your pile gets red-hot enough to kill off any potential roots or flora fragments that could regrow . It ’s a good pattern to keep your pile actively turning and maintaining a healthy temperature to avoid any accidental grass propagation . By last out argus-eyed , you may keep your compost mob a electropositive addition to your gardening sweat , rather than an unexpected source of excess work !

Add: Vegetable and Fruit Scraps

One of the easy and most good thing you could total to your compost pile in September is vegetable and fruit fighting . Think of all those apple cores , carrot tops , and wilted lettuce leaves that pile up as you cook — these are perfect for composting ! They ’re rich in N and facilitate produce a balanced mix of green and brown cloth , which is important for a healthy compost pile . I find it so rewarding to know that even the bit and pieces from my kitchen can go back into the garden and contribute to a thrive ecosystem .

Just remember to chop up up big scraps into smaller piece to help them stop down faster . And forfend impart citrus peels or onion plant skins in large quantity , as they can be a bit more acidic and slower to decompose . By incorporate a assortment of veg and fruit scraps , you ’ll keep your heap well - feed and active . It ’s awing how much kitchen waste can be transformed into something so good for your garden , and every little bit helps !

compost in September is all about taking vantage of what the time of year has to offer and being aware of what goes into your pile . By add together the right stuff and forfend the ones that can cause trouble , you ’ll make a healthy , productive compost pile that ’s quick to aliment your garden when spring rolls around .

compost