The Renter’s Guide to Composting: How and Why to Do It

Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste and make your own organic fertilizer. Also, it’s not difficult to do with certain manageable tools. You can still compost your food waste, even if you’re renting a Rochester apartment or home. But at the same time, still, there are one or more things you should know to begin the process. This short guide will tender an overview of the practice of composting and the steps you can take to set about composting your food scraps.

What is composting?

Composting is the means of breaking down organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The resulting product, named compost, can be used to improve the quality of your garden soil. Composting is a fitting way to reduce waste, save money on fertilizer, and help the environment.

What can be composted?

Practically any organic material can be composted, but certainly, a few items break down so much faster than others. Food scraps for instance fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells are all for instance candidates for composting. Yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and twigs can likewise be composted.

How to start composting

If you’re now ready and keen on composting, here are the steps you can take:

1. Find a specific location for your compost bin. If you have a small balcony or patio, this can be the prime spot for your container. Just ascertain it’s in a sunny location so the ingredients will break down accurately.
2. Choose the right type of bin. There are so many different compost bins available, so research to identify the one that best suits your needs. There are containers made for indoor use, at the same time others are excellent for outdoor spaces.
3. Gather your compostable materials. Several kitchen scraps can be composted, including fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells. You can likewise add yard waste, by way of illustration, leaves, and grass clippings to your bin.
4. Add water to the bin depending on the needs. The ingredients in your bin need to be moist to break down perfectly, so ascertain to add water if the bin starts to look dry.
5. Turn the contents of the bin quite often. This will help oxygenate the materials and speed up the composting process.
6. Once the compost is ready, it should be dark and crumbly. It can then be added to your garden or used as mulch around your plants.

How to use compost

Compost can be used in many forms. Here are some ideas:

• You can use it as a soil amendment in a garden or planter. Compost can be mixed into the soil to increase drainage and aeration. It can, in addition, help retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil.
• Use it as mulch. Spread a layer of compost around your plants to help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Use it as a fertilizer. Compost can be used to fertilize your plants. Just mix it into the soil around the base of the plant.
• Use it to make a potting mix. Compost can be mixed with other ingredients, particularly perlite or vermiculite, to put together a potting mix for your indoor plants.
• Use it to formulate compost tea. This liquid fertilizer can be prepared by steeping compost in water for several days. It can then be laid on to fertilize your plants or to water seedlings.

Composting is a sure way to lower your environmental impact and help your garden or houseplants grow. By keeping these really easy tips, you can quite easily compost at home, even if you’re renting.

 

Are you in the market for a new rental home – preferably one with more outdoor space for composting and applying your green thumb? If such is your case, talk to one of our Rochester property managers today or view our listings online.