#13: Easy Composting Methods & Myths with Robert Pavlis

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If you’ve ever been confused by the topic of composting, today’s show is one you don’t want to miss. We have Robert Pavlis with us today, an incredible gardener with over 40 years of experience. Robert has written multiple books, runs two garden blogs, and is the head gardener at Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden in Canada.

Easy Composting Methods & Myths

Audrey: Today, we’ll discuss various forms of composting, debunk common myths, and simplify the process. Welcome, Robert!

Robert: Thanks, Audrey. It’s great to be here and talk about composting.

Special Invite to Fall Vegetable Gardening Summit

Before we jump into today’s show, I want to mention our upcoming Fall Vegetable Gardening Summit. We have over 20 speakers teaching about cool-season crops, preserving late summer harvests, and improving soil health.

Get on the waitlist here or if registration is open it’ll direct you to grab your free ticket!

Now, on to today’s show!

What is Composting?

Audrey: Robert, let’s start with the basics. What is composting, and why is it important for the garden?

Robert: Composting, from most people’s perspective, is creating that black compost material everyone knows is good for gardens. It’s actually the decomposition of organic matter, like plants, leaves, stems, and kitchen scraps, into smaller molecules.

This process involves both chemical and biological actions, primarily done by microbes. These microbes break down large molecules, like a banana peel, into something much smaller that eventually becomes nutrients plants can use.

When Can You Add Compost to the Garden

Audrey: At what point can you add compost to the soil? Is there a time that’s too soon or too late?

Robert: There’s never a time that’s too soon. Composting can be done continuously. I often use the “cut and drop” method in my garden, where I just drop dead flowers or weeds right onto the soil. For traditional composting, we usually consider compost “finished” when we can’t see the original structure of the material anymore, like the banana peel.

However, this compost isn’t truly finished; it continues to break down for about five years, depending on your climate.

A Common Confusion with Compost

Audrey: So, even if the compost still has bits and pieces, it’s still beneficial to add to the garden?

Robert:  Absolutely. Some people think compost is a quick-release fertilizer, but it’s actually a slow-release fertilizer. When you add compost to your garden, it doesn’t immediately provide a lot of nutrients. Instead, it releases small amounts over time as it continues to decompose.

What to Know About Adding Manure to Compost

Audrey: A common confusion is the use of manure in compost. Can you clarify how and when to use it?

Robert: Manure can be a great addition to compost because it often contains high nitrogen levels. However, fresh manure can be too rich and burn your plants due to high nitrogen content, especially urine. The key is to let the manure age or mix it with yard waste.

Different types of manure, like horse, rabbit, or chicken manure, have different aging requirements. For example, chicken manure should age longer than horse manure.

How to Test for Herbicides in Manure

Audrey: There’s been some concern about herbicide carryover in manure, particularly with horse manure. Can you elaborate?

Robert: Yes, certain herbicides can persist in manure, even after it passes through the animal and composts. This can be a problem if you use manure from animals fed on herbicide-treated hay or straw. 

To test for this, you can plant seeds in a pot with the compost and see if they germinate and grow normally. If the plants show deformed leaves or poor growth, herbicides might be present.

How All Forms of Compost Are the Same

Audrey: Is there a difference between compost from various sources like animal manure, plant material, or kitchen scraps?

Robert: Chemically, there’s very little difference between compost sources. All organic matter, whether animal, plant, or kitchen waste, breaks down into the same basic nutrients. The only major difference might be the nutrient content, such as nitrogen levels, but in terms of molecular composition, they’re nearly identical.

Various Composting Methods and How to Decide Which One Is Best

Audrey: What should gardeners consider when choosing a composting method?

Robert: The first thing to consider is how much space you have, how much time you want to spend on composting, and where your material is coming from. 

For most home gardeners, smaller bins work well because they don’t generate a lot of compostable material. 

If you have more space and material, you might consider larger bins or piles. Another method is vermicomposting, which uses worms to help break down organic matter. It’s great for kitchen scraps but requires some care, much like having a pet.

Information on Vermicomposting

Audrey: Can you tell us more about vermicomposting?

Robert: Vermicomposting involves using worms to process organic waste. The worms don’t actually compost; they grind up the material and mix it with bacteria, making it easier to compost. 

It’s a good method for small spaces and kitchen scraps, and it can be done indoors, making it ideal for year-round composting in colder climates. However, it requires regular care and attention, so it’s best suited for those who don’t mind taking care of worms as a kind of pet.

How to Do the Chop-and-Drop Method

Audrey: You’ve mentioned the chop-and-drop method. Can you explain how to do it and what plants are best suited for it?

Robert: The chop and drop method is simple: you chop up garden waste and drop it back onto the soil. The smaller the pieces, the faster they decompose. I generally chop things into six to eight-inch lengths. This method can be used with most garden plants, including toxic ones like rhubarb leaves, because the toxins break down over time. It’s a great way to recycle nutrients and create a natural mulch.

How Much Compost to Add to Garden Beds

Audrey: When adding compost to garden beds, how much should you use?

Robert: I generally recommend adding one to two inches of compost to garden beds. Adding more can lead to nutrient imbalances, especially with phosphorus. It’s essential to be mindful of how much you’re adding, especially if you’ve been doing it for several years. The compost continues to break down and release nutrients for years, so you don’t need to add a thick layer every season.

The Concern with Using Wood Chips

Audrey: What about using wood chips in compost or as mulch? Is there a concern about nitrogen being stolen from plants?

Robert: Yes, wood chips have a high carbon content and low nitrogen, making them slow to decompose. If you mix wood chips into the soil, microbes will take nitrogen from the soil to decompose the wood, competing with plants for this essential nutrient.

It’s best to use wood chips as mulch on the soil surface, ideally in flower beds or areas where perennials are growing. Not in vegetable garden beds.

Browns vs Greens

Audrey: Could you explain the concept of browns and greens in composting?

Robert: Browns are carbon-rich materials like dry leaves, straw, and wood chips, while greens are nitrogen-rich materials like kitchen scraps and fresh plant material. 

For effective composting, you need a balance of both, typically around 25:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio. Too many browns slow down decomposition, while too many greens can make the compost too wet and smelly.

What to Know About Coffee Grounds in Compost

Audrey: How about coffee grounds? Are they good for compost?

Robert: Coffee grounds are an excellent addition to compost because they have a good balance of carbon and nitrogen. 

However, they can be toxic to seedlings due to the caffeine content, so it’s best not to use them directly as mulch where you plan to plant seeds. It’s better to compost them first.

An Important Message About Natural Products in Gardening

Audrey: You’ve mentioned the importance of understanding natural products in gardening. Could you elaborate?

Robert: Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe or free of chemicals. For example, coffee grounds are natural but contain caffeine, which can harm seedlings. It’s crucial to understand that all plants produce various chemicals, and we should use them responsibly in our gardens.

What Items to Not Add to Compost

Audrey: Are there any items we should avoid adding to compost or using in the chop and drop method?

Robert: This is a controversial topic. Some people avoid adding pet waste, meat, and diseased plants to compost. While pet waste can contain pathogens, if you’re already exposed to your pet, it’s not a significant concern.

Meat can attract pests and decompose slowly, so it’s usually best avoided. As for diseased plants, most common garden diseases won’t survive the composting process, but for more severe issues like viruses, it’s better to discard them.

An Overview of Robert’s Presentation at the Fall Gardening Summit

Audrey: Finally, could you give us an overview of your upcoming presentation at the Fall Gardening Summit?

Robert: Sure! My presentation will focus on making hot compost, which is the most efficient way to compost and is excellent for controlling diseases. I’ll cover the steps to achieve the right conditions for hot composting and discuss the benefits of this method. It’s an ideal approach for those who want to compost quickly and efficiently.

Audrey: That sounds fantastic, Robert. Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your valuable insights on composting.

Robert: Thank you, Audrey. It was great to be here.

Audrey: And for our listeners, don’t forget to sign up for the Fall Gardening Summit starting August 26. Check the description below for more details and get your free ticket. Thanks for listening, and see you in the next episode!

Summary

• Special Invite to Fall Vegetable Gardening Summit
• What is composing
• When you can add the compost to the garden
• A common confusion with compost
• What to know about adding manure to compost
• How to test for herbicides in manure 
• How all forms of compost are the same
• Various composting methods and how to decide which one is best
• Information on vermicomposting
• How to do the chop and drop method
• How much compost to add to garden beds
• The concern with using wood chips
• Browns vs greens
• What to know about coffee grounds in compost
• An important message about natural products in gardening
• What items to not add to compost
• An overview of Robert’s presentation at the Fall Gardening Summit

Learn more in our related blog post, Easy Composting: Methods & Myths.

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Podcast Episode Resources and Links Mentioned

• Zone 9 Garden Club – Start your 14-day free trial.
• Free Vegetable Planting Schedule
• Fall Vegetable Gardening Summit
• Compost Science for Beginners by Robert Pavlis
• Robert Pavlis’s Blog

EASY Composting Methods & MYTHS with Robert Pavlis