GOOD COMPOST?

I've added orange/clementine peels for years to my compost with no ill effects. In fact, I think the citrus peel may act as a deterrent to fire ants. I used to use an orange oil/molasses mixture on fire ant beds which worked beautifully. Then, it was no longer available. I've been using the peel in my compost now for several years and believe I'm seeing fewer fire ants than I used to. Obviously, I can't claim the peel as the reason, but . . . . .

I keep a huge ziploc bag in the bottom drawer of my fridge into which I put vegetable peelings. It's cold enough so there's no odor, but everything does began to break down before my DH dumps the bag's contents into my composter. I rinse the bag out, but don't really clean it between batches so there are microbes still there to help initial breakdown. I've no room in my freezer, but this works for me.

If you EVER get an imbalance in your mixture to the point that your bin or pile smells like the lion's cage in the zoo (venting nitrogen), you can fix it quickly by shredding old newspapers and adding these strips to the pile. This happened to me once; I was amazed at how quickly the newspaper trick solved the odor problem!
Leslie

Sandy, I actually use vinyl garbage cans, on wheels, with lids, for my composting. I drilled holes all over them for aeration and drainage (they do still hold some water down in the bottom). The reason is that I don't have a lot of space, and a pile or traditional bin was just too hard for me to turn. The garbage cans can be wheeled out into a larger area. In fact, you can duct-tape the lid down, turn the bin on its side, and roll it around the yard to turn the compost. When it's time to sift, you can "pour" it out to work with a little at a time.

I think it is wonderful that there are so many ways to compost.

I've composted all year with no problem and great results, but suddenly am besieged with disgusting-looking grubs wiggling around in there (not worms, icky fat 1" white or yellow grubs). Ugh, they look gross.

This happened once before a couple years ago, and at some point they all disappeared (died? turned into something that flew away?), so I'm not too alarmed about them this year. But, if there's one particular thing that is drawing them to the compost pile, I'd be happy to not add that into the compost anymore. Unfortunately, i *think* they hatched out of little bumps on the leaves I use for the brown layer. The leaves I have at my disposal come from either a "live oak" tree or a cedar.

Any comments or suggestions on this? Does anyone know what they are or how to keep them out? Or should I just be happy for all the composting they do...
Thanks.

I have had similar creatures, maybe grubs, last year but have not seem them for awhile. I think that is one reason I see birds digging in the pile! When I would turn the pile I would see those guys but when exposed to the light they dug back in very fast.

Thanks, quiltygirl. My compost is in large garbage bins so birds don't get in there to feast, unfortunately. I guess I just won't worry about the grubs, but I sure hate them. I hope they leave before I'm wanting to sift the compost. Of course if they're still there, I guess it means the compost isn't ready? Or I guess I could pick them out at that time (sifting) but --- yuck.

I'm about to trim all my big purslane pots way back. It's out of control and really not even pretty anymore. It's just been soooo hot...........Just wondering--can I put those trimmings and also the weeds I pull from my flower beds in the compost pile? Will the seeds break down? I use a lot of purslane in big pots every year, and consequently, the stuff comes up in every bed (spread by birds and wind, I guess). It's my most common "weed."

All kinds of plants are great for the compost so have a good time composting them, they should help the pile since they are fresh.

But what I'm wondering, Josephine, is will those seeds come up where I use the compost?

Maybe, but not if the compost gets good and hot.

If compost gets hot enough it will kill off weed seeds. It is storming all around us but barely a sprinkle. Sure wish it would pour down and stop just threatening to.

Thanks.

I guess the compost gets hotter if in a container or covered in black plastic. Mine is not, even though it gets hot here I see from sproutings that it is not hot enought to kills seeds. I do not trust weeds in mine. Heck, the horses' manure from alfalfa hay stays compact even when kitchen scraps and straw are fully composted.

Isn't purslane eatable? Seems I had something like that growing that I was pulling at weeds and the Mexican neighbors tried explaining (in Spanish) that they actually buy it to eat at the Mexican market. She said it tastes like spinach and they fry it in a pan with onions. I think purslane is what it was..... Whatever, I tried it. Not too bad fixed that way, but stronger taste, more like swiss chard.

Wow, never heard that about purslane. If that's true, we'll never starve on the Rampy place! I trimmed, weeded and picked at my beds yesterday, so it looks like brand new today. The canna flowers were so mostly spent, but the foliage is still so green and pretty.

I've still not gotten my compost bins built, so my pile is just that--a pile, and it looks pretty ratty. Added about a foot and a half of trimmings to it yesterday. I'm short on "browns," so I tore up a whole tub of newspaper last night and added today. We're pulling weeds in the round pen and picking up poop there, too. After all that is added, we'll turn it all, and I'll water it tonight. Let me know, please, if you see something wrong with that plan.

We're having two days of big parties out here this Friday and Saturday, but I'm hoping to get those containment bins built next week...............well, I don't know--my Colorado granddaughter is coming Monday for the whole week, and she is so not use to this heat. I don't know if I can get here out in it or not. Oh well,.........some day.

I think you are doing great Sybil, that is the neat thing about composting you can hardly go wrong.

All the woods out in your area should provide a great source of dry leaves. I would love to have the space you have so I could pile mine instead of having the bins. But here, if I didn't contain them they would end up down in the local creek (if and when we get rain again!!).

How true IF and when we get rain!!

I watch the weather in Plano where my family lives and I cannot believe you can go out at all on all the heat you have! When I used to live on the coast I could not believe the TX temps. Now where i live inland our 'averages' are higher than in Plano. But this summer we have been blessed with lower than average temps. Last 2 days have only been 85, but it will go back up.


This A M I went put to add kitchen scraps and horse poo to my growing pile. I need to stop adding to it and get another pile started or it will never get 'done'..

I took some things to our dump yesterday. Someone had dumped a huge pile of grass clippings. I had a bark mulch bag and a plastic box that is around 20 qts. I filled both up packed full of grass and brought home to mix with my compost pile. My pile was mostly dried leaves and shredded papers. I really needed the greens for it. I made 2 trips to the dumped so I filled both up each time. I was really happy with my find.

My plants are struggling to live and someone had pulled up their bell pepper plants that were covered in huge peppers and tomato plants that had a few nice tomatoes. There was atleast 8 peppers I could see. I thought about bringing them home but was afraid to as I don't know if they had used insecticides on them. Was really a shame they did not give them to their neighbors or the guys who work at the dump. What a waste.

Why do people sift their compost? Is it necessary?

I shredded a lot of mail yesterday and each envelope including the return one had cellophane. What a waste. I figured the cellophane would not compost and would be way too much for my compost pile. I am way too lazy to cut out the cellophane windows and shred the rest. Any one else shred and compost mail? Thanks for any info.

I usually don't sift my compost, but it's good to do to get out bigger chunks of things (roots, sticks, etc). The stuff that's too big gets put back in the new pile.

Ditto on the stuff that is too big, or uncomposted. The horse poo from alfalfa that stays in clumps I end up breaking it up with my (gloved) hands. I had heard that if you have or have access to a chipper it is a great idea to run everything through there, including the dry manure. Makes everything break down faster.

I do use shredded paper but found it needs to be mixed in well or it ends up clumping together and takes longer to compost. Pits and nut shells do not seem to break down. Egg shells can be applied direct to plant bases. After drying you can run the rolling pin over them and they will keep snails away from plants or to get the benefits faster for tomatoes or roses, but them in the blender with water to make a soupy mix to feed to plants.

Outside of manure, I do not get 'green' either. I have been know to keep a trash bag in the trunk and accost a gardener mowing a lawn. Of course you do not know if cchemicals have been used on the grass from strangers either.

It IS surprising what plants people just throw out. I got a couple huge fountain grass plants that way. Actually the lady who had had them pulled from her yard was at Home Depot while I was looking at buying some fountain grass.and she gave me her address to be able to go retrieve them. From those I today have 9 from dividing over the years. The brand new ones form the nursery are hard to protect from the bunnies.

I sift because I rake or blow leaves up and pile them also cut two and three foot plant sections and toss on the pile. Not all of it will decay at the same rate. Plus I can toss out the pecans, acorns, rocks or dog toys that get picked up; they won't do my plants any good. Also if I sift I can make sure the worms that do the work get back in the new pile!

If you wanted grass clippings on a regular basis, you could get a neighbor who normally rakes and bags them to save them for you. If you dropped off a few 5 gallon buckets to put them in, it would save them money on the bags they have to buy. Don't know about yours but up here they require paper bags that are 5 for $2.79 or so.