Composting Done Right: What to Keep in Mind
Composting is simple and effective — it not only reduces your waste but also improves soil fertility in your garden. By layering organic waste, you create valuable compost that enriches your soil while helping to protect the environment.
1. Sorting Makes All the Difference
The better a compost pile is mixed, the easier and more smoothly it decomposes. The composter should not be filled to capacity right away, but instead filled daily with the organic waste that accumulates. Kitchen waste has a high water content, so it is important to ensure good aeration, as a sufficient supply of oxygen is essential. In addition, wet materials should be mixed with dry ones, and coarse materials with fine ones.
| What can be composted: | What should not be composted: |
|
|
2. The Ingredients for Successful Composting
Woody prunings
| When shredded and applied in thin layers, wood chips improve the structure and aeration of the compost. | Tip: Universal round container |
Leaves
| The leaves must be shredded or chopped before filling the composter. This prevents the leaves from forming an airtight layer. | Tip: Dry leaves help break down wet kitchen scraps during winter composting, so you should save them for later use. |
Lawn mowing
| Wet grass clippings should only be spread in a thin layer, otherwise they will cause rot and odors. | Tip: Let grass clippings dry out before composting, and add them only in small amounts or mixed with other materials to ensure proper aeration. |
Citrus and banana peels | Peelings can be composted in normal household quantities, but they decompose more slowly because of the waxy coating and should therefore be chopped up. | Tip: It’s best to buy untreated citrus fruits. Add chopped banana peels and citrus fruits. |
3. Choosing the Right Location
When choosing a spot, keep the following points in mind:
- Easily accessible
- Accessible by wheelbarrow
- Partially shaded and sheltered from the wind
- At least 0.5 m distance from neighboring properties
- Not placed on concrete or asphalt
4. Choosing the Right Composter
We recommend choosing GARANTIA quality. Here are a few of our top composters:
Our Design Highlight:
- Exceptionally realistic wood‑look design
- Insulating construction made from Thermolen
- Large access and removal flaps
- Sustainable and durable
Our All-Rounder:
- Excellent value for money
- Two large filling flaps
- Practical removal flaps
- Sustainable and durable
Our Maxi Composter:
- Up to 1,000 L capacity
- Made from high‑quality material
- Easy and convenient to use
- Weather‑ and UV‑resistant
Our Mini Composter:
- Odorless
- Space-saving
- Includes compost accelerator spray
Also Interesting
With a GARANTIA composter, you actively contribute to environmental protection while simultaneously improving the quality of your garden. Composting also offers many additional benefits:
- Save on household waste disposal costs
- Protect the environment
- Improve soil fertility
- Simple and efficient waste recycling
- Suitable for year‑round use
Did you know? Composting is also possible during winter. To optimally compost the often moist kitchen waste during the colder months, dry leaves and shredded material collected in autumn should be added to the compost as a mixing material. Although the decomposition process slows down during winter, it continues steadily, as microorganisms generate heat during their activity.
Questions and answers about composting
-
Where is the right place to install my composter?
When choosing a location, ensure that your composter is easy to access from the house and garden. Think of your neighbours and install it at least 0.5 m away from their property. Install your composter directly on the ground. This allows microorganisms to access your composter. You should fit grating (accessory) on the base of your composter to protect against rodents. Loosen compressed ground before installing. Concrete, stone and asphalt bases are not suitable under your composter.
The contents will rot in no time if you install the composter in the sun or semi-shade. The composter needs the heat of the sun to evaporate water from its contents, but it mustn't dry out completely. It should be installed in a position protected from the worst of the wind but not without any wind — air movement is important for the supply of fresh air.
-
What is the right way to fill my composter for the first time?
When first filling, use a bulky structured material, such as broken twigs, to form the bottom layer. This makes it easier for air to enter the compost from below and excess water can drain off better. Ensure as good a mix of garden and kitchen waste as possible in the layers that follow. If you have any active compost, this can be added to the bottom layer.
-
What is the right way to compost?
The better the compost is mixed, the easier and better it decomposes. You shouldn't fill the composter in one go. Instead, fill it slowly with organic waste produced on a daily basis. Kitchen waste has a high water content. Ensure good aeration – a sufficient supply of oxygen is very important. Wet materials should be mixed with dry ones and coarse materials with fine ones. Remember: Your composter isn't a rubbish heap you can throw anything onto without consideration. If it is to fulfil its function, you must selectively add raw materials.
-
What can I put in the composter?
Fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grounds, tea leaves, eggshell (crushed), pot plants, cut flowers, spent potting soil, lawn cuttings and leaves. Tip: Wet materials should be mixed with dry ones and coarse materials with fine ones. If well aerated, there is nothing to stop you producing good compost. Ensure that the compost is damp. Compost mustn't be too dry or too wet!
-
What must I not put in the composter?
Meat, fish, leftover food, bread, sausage, cheese rind, bones, diseased plants, coal or charcoal ash, cigarettes, vacuum cleaner bags, litter, medicines and nutshells.
-
Can I compost in the winter too?
You can compost in the winter too. In order to perfectly compost wet kitchen waste produced in the winter, the dry leaves and shredded garden waste collected in the autumn should be added to the compost. The contents of the composter break down slower during the cold winter months.
-
How do I check whether my compost is ready?
You can use the cress test to determine when your compost is ready.
- Fill a 1/3 of a jar with compost, scatter cress seeds over it, water gently and put on the lid
- See how the plants grow
- If the plants turn green and the roots are white, the compost is ready to use. If the plants are brown, it isn't ready yet.
