Lawn Composition: Animals, Recycling, and Compost, Oh My!

Ladybugs--who are attracted to sunflowers and marigolds, among other common plants--and ground beetles eat certain kinds of aphids which can be harmful to garden or lawn vegetation. Additionally, hanging bird feeders and nesting boxes can attract birds who can take care of pesky caterpillars and slugs. What this adds up to is a mitigation of the need or want to use harmful pesticides to take care of bug problems that one might encounter. Plus, those who employ the above methods gain the added benefit of a lively atmosphere around their lawn and garden!

Recycling is a good way to reduce one’s contribution to manufacturing processes that put harmful chemicals in the atmosphere. One way to decorate a lawn or garden is to re-use salvaged items, such as glass bottles, wooden pallets, and empty containers. In many instances, recycling itself is a manufactured process because of the need to clean and sanitize materials, so re-purposing items before they even need to be recycled circumvents the need for this process altogether, and it lends a very unique look to the lawn.

Composting is a natural and efficient way to fertilize lawns, plus it provides a self-contained method of recycling one’s own organic material. Be careful of the items used for compost, as meat or bones could attract unwanted pests or rodents! Composting eggshells, vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, and weeds then using it as a natural fertilizer aids soil by aerating it, supplementing it with nutrients, and helping it retain moisture. 

These are just a few tips to go green in gardens and lawns. There are many other ways to reduce one’s own impact on the environment by simply considering and researching simple ideas like the ones described here. 

Helpful Tips and Tricks to Composting

Here is a list of materials to compost:

Materials to Compost
Browns = High Carbon	Greens = High Nitrogen
Ashes, wood Bark Cardboard, shredded Corn stalks Fruit waste Leaves Newspaper, shredded Peanut shells Peat moss Pine needles Sawdust Stems and twigs, shredded Straw Vegetable stalks	Alfalfa Algae Clover Coffee grounds Food waste Garden waste Grass clippings Hay Hedge clippings Hops, used Manures Seaweed Vegetable scraps Weeds*
*Avoid weeds that have gone to seed, as seeds may survive all but the hottest compost piles.

Here is a list of what NOT to compost:

Coal Ash, Colored Paper, Diseased Plants, Inorganic Materials, Meat, Bones, Fish, Fats, Dairy, Pet Droppings, Synthetic Chemicals 

How to speed up the process of your compost pile:

Compost decomposes fastest between 120 and 160˚F, so anything that will increase the heat will “cook” your compost faster. Here are five tips for fast composting:

1.) Chop and shred larger items, which makes it easier for the bacteria to break them down. For example, one easy way is to slice and dice garden waste is to run your lawn mower over leaves and other garden waste. Take scissors to newsprint or cardboard.

2.) Turn, turn, turn. Keep turning your pile whenever you add materials to your pile. It helps add oxygen throughout the pile and it keeps materials from clumping together. 

3.) Give your compost heap a “big meal” versus small snacks. Collect all your organic waste over a couple of days and then add it in one big bunch. The more you add at one time, the more your compost will heat up.

4.) Keep your compost pile in the sun. The heat will speed up the process.

5. A compost activator contributes either high nitrogen, microorganisms, or both, and provides a quick boost to the decomposition process. Consider throwing some algae, seaweed or lake weed into the pile. Just be sure to rinse off any salt water before adding. You can also “jump start” your compost by adding alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, blood meal or compost starter.

Composting 101

Composting 101

In our blog survey, about one fifth of respondents stated that they do not compost. I, too, did not use to compost. But then when I learned how big of an impact composting can have on my local community and on the environment, as well as how little time it took and how easy it was, I easily switched to composting. Explore these websites to learn what composting is, and how you can start today!

For information on composting, including interactive games (for all ages), check out here.

For info on the composting program in Portland, Oregon, view this cool webpage.

For an awesome website on composting programs worldwide, explore this link.

Remember, food scraps are a significant source of waste produced each year, but can easily be diverted to compost for a better garden, reduced waste, and a greener world!