How to Make Compost Properly – Achieving a High-Decomposition Result Year After Year

Choose the Right Location for Your Compost

A partially shaded location: The compost should not be in direct sunlight, as it will dry out. This would be detrimental, as moisture is essential for the decomposition process. If the compost gets too dry, the activity of the organisms slows down or stops and the decomposition comes to a halt. For these reasons, a partially shaded location is ideal.

Ventilation

Choose a well-ventilated location for your compost, but one that is protected from draughts and strong winds. This is crucial for the decomposition process to run optimally. When building the compost, place branches as the bottom layer. These ensure good ventilation, accelerate decomposition and drain excess water.

Direct Contact with the Ground

To ensure that new life from outside, such as earthworms, soil animals, or micro-organisms, can also come in, it is advantageous to leave the compost heap on the ground and thus ensure direct contact with the ground.

The Layered Structure:

  1. The Bottom Layer: 
    Start with a 20-30 cm layer of coarse materials. These include small branches, twigs, or shredded pruning.
     
  2. The Green Layer: 
    Fill this layer with the first kitchen waste, fresh grass clippings, or leaves from your garden.
     
  3. The Brown Layer: 
    This layer contains materials such as straw, paper, or cardboard. It regulates moisture.
     
  4. The Earth Layer: 
    To speed up the decomposition process, you can occasionally add garden soil, as this contains so-called starter bacteria.

How to Properly Maintain Your Compost

Moisture is a crucial factor for compost, but it must not be too wet either. Use the so-called ‘sponge test’ to check the moisture: Take a handful of compost and squeeze it. The compost should feel like a damp sponge that has already been squeezed out. If it is too dry, add a little water. If there is excess moisture, mix in dry material.

Tip: Turn the compost pile regularly to supply it with oxygen and support the decomposition process.

The Perfect Compost

After about 6-12 months, the compost will be dark and smell earthy. You can now use the compost perfectly in your garden as mulch or fertiliser.