Compost Guide

Can you put citrus in compost?

Yes, putting citrus fruit into your compost has many benefits, as long as you balance the acidity in your compost pile to counter the acidity boost that citrus will bring to the pH balance of your pile. Also, if you are vermicomposting, you may want to avoid adding citrus fruits altogether, as certain worms prefer not to eat citrus, which can slow down the decomposition process in worm compost bins, but in regular composting systems, adding citrus fruit and peels is perfectly safe and has several benefits.

Can you put coffee grounds in compost?

Yes you can, in fact, the safest way to use coffee grounds in the garden is by adding them to your compost pile. However, if you drink a lot of coffee, you will want to watch how much you add to your pile, as coffee grounds should only make up 10 to 20 percent of your total compost volume. If more than 20 percent of your compost is made up of coffee grounds, it might inhibit the beneficial microbes from breaking down organic matter effectively.

Can you put leftover food in compost?

Some of your leftover food can be added to compost, but there are some things that you’re better off repurposing in a stew or simply throwing out with the trash. Leftover fruit and vegetables, whether raw or cooked, can always be used in compost. You can compost fruits and vegetables even when they’ve spoiled and gotten moldy. (Consider it a head start on the decomposition of the compost heap.) The peels and trimmings from your fruit and vegetables are also fair game for adding to the compost bin.

Can you put onions in compost?

Don’t let the warnings you’ll occasionally see online fool you—onions can be composted with just a few precautions. The reason some people recommend not composting onions is that they have such a strong odor that they can attract pest animals if they’re tossed on top of the bin carelessly.

Should you dig compost into soil?

QUESTION: Should you dig compost into soil?

ANSWER: The basic rule of thumb to determine whether you should dig your compost into the soil is that you should dig the compost into the top six to 12 inches of soil when you’re amending soil in a new area or to correct a shortcoming. If you’re adding compost to maintain an area that’s already had its soil amended, you do not need to dig the compost into the soil.