Starting composting can be an incredibly rewarding process for your farm or garden, especially when you learn how to speed up the compost breakdown. In my experience, the sooner you get a nutrient-rich batch ready, the better it is for your soil. Here are five ways to make your composting systems take off quickly. A common mistake when starting out is not achieving the right balance between greens (like kitchen scraps, plant debris, and organic waste) and browns (such as leftover mulch and animal manure). Too much of one can slow down the process. By adding the right amount of both, you ensure that the microbes have enough food to break down everything faster, turning your materials into humus quicker. Turning your compost pile regularly is crucial for fast decomposing.
Without air, the breakdown slows down and can lead to a smelly, ineffective pile. Try to turn your pile every four weeks, or even more frequently, to ensure it’s getting the oxygen it needs to boost the breakdown of organic waste. The speed at which your compost breaks down is also affected by moisture levels. Too much water can lead to a hard mass that’s difficult to work with, while too little moisture means the process will slow. The ideal is a damp, but not soaking, pile that retains moisture but still allows for airflow.
5 Quick Tips to Speed Up Your Composting Process
While it may seem tempting to throw garbage into your compost to reduce waste, certain materials like meat, dairy, diseased plant matter, and invasive weeds should be avoided. These can introduce harmful pathogens and disrupt your composting systems, leaving you with unusable material. Sometimes, especially when starting a pile, the decomposition process can take longer. Adding silage or a composting accelerator can give it a boost, helping the microbes get to work faster. These products help jumpstart the process, leading to finished compost much sooner.
Turn Regularly
One of the best and easiest ways to speed up your compost is to turn the pile regularly. The process of aerobic decomposition requires oxygen, and turning the pile ensures the material receives it. I’ve found that turning the compost every three to four days helps increase the temperature of the pile, making it hotter and encouraging materials to break down more quickly. A compost thermometer can assist you in monitoring the pile temp, and if it drops below 104°F (40°C), that’s a signal to turn the pile more frequently. By turning from the center outward and outside inward, you give the compost the air it needs, speeding up decomposition and reducing the time needed to develop finished compost. Whether using a broadfork, shovel, or simply following a regular turning schedule, this aspect of composting is crucial for keeping the pile at an optimal temperature for breakdown.
Aerate
An excellent way to speed up your compost is by ensuring it gets plenty of oxygen. Proper aeration plays a crucial role in accelerating the breakdown of the pile. I’ve found that setting up a bin with PVC pipe running through the center, with holes drilled along its length, provides great airflow to the compost. This simple setup allows air to circulate, promoting aerobic decomposition. You can also use a bay compost system with slats or openings for insects, worms, and grubs to enter and consume the organic matter, which helps speed up the breakdown. Without proper aeration, the pile can slip into an anaerobic state, causing bad smells and a much slower rate of decomposition. Bins that are well-ventilated allow for proper airflow, ensuring that your compost stays in the optimal conditions for decomposition, accelerating the process.
Water
-
Proper moisture content is crucial for speeding up decomposition.
-
Too much water can cause a slow process, while too little will halt the breakdown.
-
Water regularly using a hose or sprayer, especially in dry areas.
-
Ensure the greens and browns are evenly moist to help detritivores and insect-sized organisms move freely and consume organic matter.
-
Spritz the pile if it feels too dry, but avoid creating standing water.
-
Moisture should be enough to prevent compacting, which would hinder microbe movement.
-
The pile should be damp but should drain freely, allowing microbes to work effectively.
-
Adequate moisture ensures that nutrients move around the pile, improving the speed of decomposition.
Additives
Sometimes, adding specific additives can help speed up the compost process. One of the simplest and most effective methods I’ve found is including inoculants—microbial agents that help jump-start the breakdown of materials in the pile. If your compost is in a bin, adding grass clippings, leaves, or even kitchen scraps can provide an excellent balance of greens and browns. However, it’s important to keep the right ratio to avoid a mess up—too much green matter will lead to a slow compost that’s too wet and lacks structure. In addition, following the directions on the bottle of any additive can help you maintain the right balance and ensure active composition. A little goes a long way, and these additives can provide an extra boost to break down even the semi-dormant organic materials and improve the nutrient profile of your pile. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too much of certain additives could end up doing more harm than good.
Ensure It’s the Right Size
When it comes to compost, size really matters. A small compost pile might be harder to manage, and it won’t retain enough heat for efficient decomposition. On the other hand, a large pile can become hard to turn and keep balanced. In my experience, keeping your pile around the size of 3x3x3 ft (a cubic yard) is ideal for ensuring it breaks down at the right speed. If you’re using bins, make sure they can accommodate the right amount of material without overcrowding. You can either build a pile in bays or use pre-made bins or even repurposed trash cans. A 5x5x5 feet pile works well for larger operations and allows air and moisture to reach the materials more easily. Multiple piles can also help you rotate and manage composting better, accelerating the breakdown process and helping you achieve the perfect speed up for your compost.
In conclusion, speeding up your compost is achievable through simple yet effective methods like ensuring the right size, maintaining proper moisture, aerating regularly, adding helpful additives, and turning your pile frequently. By carefully balancing greens and browns, monitoring temperature, and keeping the pile well-aerated, you’ll see the decomposition process accelerate, resulting in nutrient-rich humus for your garden or farm. With these strategies in place, you can speed up the breakdown of organic waste and create finished compost in no time, all while reducing waste and improving soil health.