Composting Your Spring Clean Up for a Healthier Fall Yard

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Many Americans are getting out into their yards to clean up from winter damage. If you haven't already hauled bags and cans to the street for pickup, you might consider a different way to manage this debris--a more sustainable method. You can save landfill space, create compost or mulch for your own yard use, and reduce the amount that needs to be transported to local facilities. This saves gas and tax dollars.

What's more, compost and composted mulch hold moisture better and add nutrients to your soil, acting as a drought protectant as well as a fertilizer. You'll be saving water and money.

Am I telling you to go out and buy an expensive compost bin? No! Of course not. All you need is a spot behind your bushes, about 3' x 3', that you can toss all your leaves, clippings and weeds. If there is not a natural barrier, such as your house, bushes or other structures, you can use inexpensive garden fencing to shore up your pile.

Rain and summer heat will do its part to naturally break down this pile of green and dead yard debris in due time. If you're in a hurry to get some good mulching compost for your Fall yard improvements, you can do a few things to light a fire under your pile, so to speak:

• Choose a spot that gets some sun; heat will speed up the process.
• Remember that any small pieces of yard debris will decompose more quickly than sticks, branches and logs. The smaller, the better. Weeds, clippings, dead annuals, and other small pieces of yard debris will work best. Avoid diseased or treated debris that may make your compost less healthy. Tree trimmings will need to be cut up into small pieces to be processed by the in-ground composting system: earthworms, insects and micro-organisms.
• Add water periodically, especially during times of drought. Don't drench your pile; simply give it a bit of a shower.
• You can further add to the temperature build up by covering your pile with a plastic tarp or large plastic garbage bag. Place a log, bricks or a couple of heavier branches over it, to assure it stays in place. Black plastic will do the best job of helping to heat up your pile.
• Finally, stirring your pile with a pitchfork or stiff rake will help to distribute the beneficial micro-organisms and insects that will do the work for you. You'll simply be helping them along by moving them throughout the pile occasionally. Once a week is sufficient, but daily will do the job quicker.

If you're thinking this compost pile will be an eye sore, think again. You can be creative and find a hidden spot in most any yard. Can you see my yard-waste pile in the photo above? It's there if you're looking for it, but not a sore thumb.

Here's to a healthy helping of nutritious compost or mulch for your Fall planting and soil enrichment. Got questions? I'll try to answer them. The comment link is at the bottom of every post; go for it!

Want to learn how to compost your kitchen and household wastes? Here's more resources from our sister site, Organic-Journey-Online:

What Can I Put in My Compost?
Composting Food Wastes Makes for Healthier Plants Next Season
Composting 101: Part I of 5


No yard? Try a compost bin or worm bin for clean, easy composting in your garage, porch or other available spot:

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