Compost is what's left when yard debris, kitchen scraps and other organic materials have completely broken down and the nutrients left can be absorbed by plants.  It's rich, dark and crumbly, and the perfect addition to Colorado's heavy clay soils.

Clay soil does not drain well and can suffocate plant roots.  Adding compost will help loosen the soil and create pore space for roots, microbes and earthworms.

When you pile all your organic waste together and give it the right conditions, bacteria and microorganisms quickly break the ingredients down to nutrients that enrich the soil and bring it to life.

The Basics

Composting is inexpensive, easy to learn and you've probably already got the ingredients.  The best way to learn is to get started.  The right amount of moisture, heat, aeration and materials is something that comes with a little practice.  Organic material will always break down, it's just a matter of time.  A compost pile is meant to speed up the process.

The ideal ratio is a 50/50 mix of nitrogen/carbon.  That means for every pound of kitchen scrapes, add a pound of newspaper, dried leaves or grass.  Brown materials take longer to break down so if your compost is too wet, add brown material.  If you don't have a lot of green material, you'll probably need to add moisture to your compost.  

Decomposition occurs rapidly between 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit.  Microbes generate their own heat and insulation keeps that heat in.  Position your compost in full sun and turn it with a pitchfork to keep the pile aerated.

If you're limited on space, a compost tumbler or worm bin is the solution.  They make smaller batches of compost, but they decompose rapidly and are easy to manage.

Composting is an alternative to chemical fertilizers that kill the microbes and bacteria that make soil fertile and alive.  Gardening and cooking generates a lot of organic waste.  The EPA estimates that 23 percent of the U.S. waste stream is yard trimmings and food waste.  Throwing all this material in rapidly filling landfills is wasteful because it can be used to build soil tilth in your landscape.  You contribute less to the waste cycle AND improve your soil at the same time.


Compost is:
cheaper than fertilizer
gradually releases nutrients
reduces volume from the waste stream
loosens soil
allow roots to spread evening
prevents erosion
retains water
reduces run-off and water pollution
accelerates nutrient cycling