Composting material: It all depends on the mixture
The correct composition of the starting material determines the speed of the decomposition process and the quality of the compost. The better the composition - the mix of "green" nitrogenous material and "brown" carbon-containing plant trimmings - the better the compost and thus the fertilising quality.
Tip:
Never pile up large quantities of the same material.
"Green" plant trimmings
contain relatively large amounts of nitrogen (N). Composting materials are e.g. shredded ornamental and useful plants and withered flowers and windfalls. Kitchen waste such as coffee grounds and tea leaves with filters and bags. Old foodstuffs such as milk, bread, egg shells, untreated peelings from citrus fruits and banana skins.
Tip:
Always have a small pitchfork handy next to the compost silo, so that the biodegradable waste from the kitchen can be mixed in immediately.
"Brown" plant trimmings
supply the carbon (C) for your compost. The starting material is shredded tree, hedge and shrub cuttings. Collect and store branches separately from the soft plant trimmings before shredding.
| Material | C : N |
|---|---|
| Paper | 1000 : 1 |
| Sawdust | 500 : 1 |
| Straw | 100 : 1 |
| Kitchen waste | 25 : 1 |
| Vegetable remains | 500 : 1 |
| Beech leaves | 60 : 1 |
| Farmyard manure | 15 : 1 |
| Lawn cuttings | 12 : 1 |
The C : N ratio
The ratio of carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) is important for the decomposition process. The starting ratio should be approx. 20-30 : 1. During the composting process, carbon decomposes. The finished compost has a C : N ratio of approx. 15-20 : 1.
What to do with all the leaves?
Ideally, leaves are collected from the lawn using a VIKING lawn mower. With multiple benefits: The lawn is mown and the leaves are collected. The grass catcher bag already contains a mixture which can be spread on beds or can be composted. An alternative is to shred the leaves and to mix this with the lawn cuttings.