6 tips for successful at-home compost

Find the right spot

Install the compost in a sunny or partly shaded location to speed up the rise in temperatures, making sure to keep it sheltered from rain. It should be accessible in both summer and winter.

Microorganisms need heat to carry out their work, destroy pathogenic bacteria and eradicate weed seeds.

Cut up your waste into little pieces

A tree branch decomposes a lot less quickly than a handful of woodchips!

Pay attention to what goes into your compost

In order for microorganisms to flourish, the quantities of carbon, nitrogen, water and oxygen need to be optimized.

• 2 to 5 parts of brown matter (carbon): dead leaves, woodchips, cardboard, straw
• 1 part of green matter (nitrogen): table or garden waste, lawn clippings
• 50-60% humidity level

Stir the mix once a week (oxygen).

Problems?

If your compost smells bad or doesn't heat up, it's out of balance.

• If it isn't heating up, add green, humid matter. Possibly it's too dry and/or lacking nitrogen.
• If it smells bad, add brown, dry matter and stir regularly. lt's possibly too damp and/or too rich in nitrogen.

Avoid plastic and harmful materials

Remove stickers from your fruits and vegetables, and avoid "biodegradable" products as well as plants that are diseased or that contain several seeds.

Biodegradable bags are made of plastic containing an additive that releases microplastics into the soi 1. PLA-based compostable products, like utensils, need to be processed at an industrial composting site to decompose.

Is your compost ready?

Compost will be mature and stable after 3 to 12 months, depending on decomposition conditions. lt will no longer be possible to determine what the waste consists of; the compost will have an earthy look and smell, and will have stopped producing heat.

If in doubt, wait a few more weeks before incorporating your compost in the garden. Autumn, before the ground freezes but after the leaves fall, is a good time: this will allow complete compost decomposition before planting begins.

An immature compost may contain molecules that are taxie to plants. An unstable compost is rich in carbon and in microorganisms. The latter will use the nitrogen present in the soil to complete the decomposition of carbon, which could lead to nitrogen deficiencies for your plants.