Citizens Stormwater Guide | Page 50

Compost is ready when ...
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It smells earthy — not sour , putrid , or like ammonia
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It no longer heats up after it is turned or wetted
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It has a crumbly texture and looks like dark soil
What to put in your compost bin / pile
MATERIAL USE : Y / N COMMENTS
Algae or seaweed Yes Good nutrient source .
Animal wastes ( bird , cat , dog feces or cat litter )
No
Droppings from pets ( and litter ) may contain disease organisms .
Ash from coal or charcoal
No
May contain materials that harm plants . Best
to exclude .
Ashes from wood fireplace or stove
No
Too alkaline for our clay soils . Can cause
nutrient imbalance problems .
Cardboard
Yes
Use if it cannot be recycled . Best if shredded
into small pieces . Glue is usually organic .
Cottonseed meal
Yes
Can be a source of nitrogen in the fall when
green grass clippings are scarce .
Diseased plants
No
Piles often do not get hot enough to destroy all
plant disease organisms .
Dryer lint
Yes
May need to be moistened . ( If high synthetic ,
may not decompose , but is not harmful ).
Food scraps
Yes
May attract rodents and other pests if not
buried at least 6 ” to 12 ” deep in pile .
Hair Yes Add moisture and mix thoroughly in pile .
Manure ( horse , cow , pig , sheep , goat , chicken , rabbit )
Yes
Excellent source of Nitrogen . Due to high water content , should be mixed with drier materials .
Newspaper
Yes
Use if cannot be recycled . Shredding is
recommended before use . Most inks today
are safe for garden use .
Pine cones and needles
Yes ; use sparingly
Recommended shredding and adding in small
quantities . Other compost materials with
neutralize their acidic effect .
Sawdust and wood shavings
Weeds
Yes ; but may need to add nitrogen
Yes , but not seeds or spreading roots
Have a high carbon content . Do not use sawdust from pressure-treated wood .
Annual weeds that have not gone to seed can be used . Plants that spread by roots or runners should be dried thoroughly before adding to compost .

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