Composting is a fantastic way to nourish your garden and reduce the amount of waste you send to landfills. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s also beneficial for your plants. However, not everything can go into your compost bin. In this guide, we’ll explore what’s allowed and what’s not, helping you become a composting pro.

What Can Go in the Compost

  1. Green Waste and Herbaceous Garden Plants
    Your garden clippings and herbaceous plants can find a new life in the compost bin.
  2. Grass Clippings
    Dry them a bit to prevent compost rot. For better ventilation, mix them with cut branches and twigs.
  3. Foliage
    Those fallen leaves can be a valuable addition to your compost.
  4. Used Potting Soil
    Don’t toss it; give it a new purpose in the compost.
  5. Dead or Withered Indoor and Balcony Plants
    Instead of throwing them away, let them enrich your compost.
  6. Poisonous Plants
    Toxic components break down during decomposition, making them safe for your compost.
  7. Organic Kitchen Waste
    Include vegetable and fruit scraps, tea filters, coffee grounds, and even dry bread (in moderation).
  8. Litter and Small Excrement from Herbivorous Animals
    Your guinea pig, hamster or rabbit waste can help your compost thrive.
  9. Sawdust
    If you have sawdust from woodworking projects, it’s compost-friendly.
  10. Horse Manure
    This nutrient-rich manure is a powerful compost booster.

Add These to the Compost in Small Quantities

  1. Wood Ash
    Use only ash from untreated wood and sparingly.
  2. Walnut and Oak Leaves
    Be cautious because they contain a growth inhibitor.
  3. Cut Flowers
    Unless they’ve been treated with pesticides, these can be composted.

Chop Them Up First

  1. Wood Waste, Twigs, Branches
    Make sure to break them down into smaller pieces for quicker decomposition.
  2. Organic Lemon and Banana Peels
    To expedite their composting, chop them into smaller bits.
  3. Plants with Thick, Leathery Leaves
    Such as bay cherry, azalea and rhododendron.
  4. Paper and Cardboard
    Except for glossy, colored paper or printed materials.
  5. Eggshells
    Crush them to help them break down more efficiently.

Do Not Include in the Compost

  1. Inorganic Materials
    This includes plastic, metal, stone, clay and the like.
  2. Other Kitchen Waste
    Meat, salami, fish, cheese, pasta, rice, etc. should not go into your compost.
  3. Nutshells
    They decompose very slowly.
  4. Boiled and Fried Foods
    These can disrupt the composting process.
  5. Diseased Plant Parts
    Avoid adding them, along with weeds with ripe seeds on them and rooted weeds.
  6. Brown and Black Coal Ash
    These ashes are not suitable for composting.
  7. Charcoal Grill Residue
    The remnants of your barbecues should stay out of the compost.
  8. Cigarette Butts
    These are non-compostable due to their non-organic components.
  9. Fat and Oil
    Grease doesn’t belong in your compost.
  10. Cat Litter
    Often contains fragrances and should be disposed of separately.
  11. Bird and Dog Droppings
    They may contain parasites and should be avoided.

Let Your Garden Thrive

Composting is a remarkable way to reduce waste and enhance the health of your garden. By understanding what belongs in your compost and what doesn’t, you can make a significant positive impact on both your environment and your green spaces. So, get composting and watch your garden thrive!