5 Common Composting Questions

Fall leaves will soon be coming down, providing gardeners with an abundance of organic matter. Why not put these materials to good use this fall and start a home compost pile? Composting is easier than you think and finished compost is an excellent soil amendment to improve the growth and health of your garden or landscape plants.

Here are five quick answers to common composting questions, to help you get your compost pile off to a good start.

Can coffee grounds be composted?  Yes, coffee grounds are a high nitrogen material, with a 20:1 carbon:nitrogen ratio. Some gardeners think coffee grounds will make their compost and soil too acidic, but this is not true. The pH of decomposing coffee grounds is not constant and can range from slightly acidic to mildly alkaline. However, ideally your compost pile should not consist of more than 20% coffee grounds. Having a diverse group of materials as a food source for decomposing microorganisms is a better strategy.

Can eggshells be composted? Yes, eggshells will break down in the compost pile, but they do not contribute either large amounts of nitrogen or carbon to the finished compost. Eggshells are primarily made of calcium. Typically Nebraska soils already have good levels of calcium, but adding your eggshells to the compost pile is still fine.  Some gardeners may be concerned about the possibility of salmonella bacteria contaminating their compost pile or garden from eggshells. Hot composting, where the materials in the pile reach 140-160 F degrees, will kill salmonella bacteria.

Can I put wood ashes in my compost pile? Wood ash is approximately 25% calcium carbonate, a common liming product, which is highly soluble in water. This means adding large amounts of wood ash can quickly raise the pH balance of your compost pile, out of the optimum range, and cause a decline in microbial activity. Use wood ash sparingly in the compost pile, particularly since most soils in eastern Nebraska already have a higher pH level. Compost microorganisms function best in a neutral to acidic soil pH range of 5.5 to 8.

Are compost additives, inoculants or activators a good idea? Compost additives are made up of dormant soil microorganisms, but although microorganisms are essential for breaking down your organic materials you don’t need to buy them. There are high populations of microorganisms in native soil and finished compost, as well as on food scraps, tree leaves, grass clippings, etc. There’s no need for you to purchase them.

When using the layering technique of building a compost pile, a 1-inch layer of soil or finished compost is mixed with layers of high carbon and high nitrogen materials. This provides all the microorganisms a compost pile needs for materials to break down well. For more specifics on creating a compost pile using the layering technique, refer to Garden Compost, Nebraska Extension.

How can you tell when the compost is finished?
Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly and earthy-smelling. There will not be any recognizable pieces of the original materials and the pile will not heat up any longer when remixed.

Upcoming Composting Demonstration
Would you like to learn how to create a compost pile with your own hands? Then plan to attend one of this fall’s composting programs, presented by Nebraska Extension and the City of Lincoln Recycling.

• Saturday September 21, 10:00 a.m., at Pioneer’s Park Nature Center
• Saturday September 21, 10-10:30 a.m., Sheridan School garden, 3100 Plymouth Ave
• Saturday October 12, 10:00 a.m., at Pioneer’s Park Nature Center