Hot Composting ( Hot & Fast )
This approach requires more maintenance but produces compost in batches that are ready in one to four months . This practice destroys most plant diseases , weeds , and weed seeds .
Advantages
• Heats up enough to kill most weed seeds and pathogens
• Uses space efficiently
Disadvantages
• Labor intensive
• Must be built all at once , requiring storage of materials until enough is collected
• Requires careful control of moisture and carbon / nitrogen ratio
Tools
• Garden fork
• Water hose with spray head
• Compost thermometer
• Compost bin ( optional )
• Burlap or black plastic to cover top of pile ( optional )
Ingredients
• Grass clippings or other high-nitrogen material
• Brown leaves
• Twigs
• Water
Directions 1 . Set compost bin or start pile in an area where water does not puddle when it rains , preferably in a shaded spot near a water source . 2 . Chop or shred woody trimmings over ½ inch diameter if adding large amounts . 3 . Place about 6 inches of brown materials at bottom of bin or pile . 4 . Add 1 or 2 inches of green material – grass clippings , green leaves , cottonseed meal , etc . 5 . Mix layers with a garden fork ( optional ) and moisten dry materials ( not optional ). 6 . Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the pile is at least 3 f t . x 3 f t . x 3 f t ., or until the bin is full . 7 . Monitor the heat in pile using a compost thermometer . Turn the pile once it has heated and starts to cool ( about one week ). Using a garden fork , move the material , shaking it in order to add air around the particles . 8 . Repeat step 7 in about one week . Repeat until pile does not reheat after turning .
Let the compost cure for two weeks before using .
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REMEMBER : Using compost before it is ready can damage plants and can also introduce weed seeds and root damaging organic acids to your garden or yard .