The Renter’s Guide to Composting: How and Why to Do It

Composting is a great way to reduce waste and make your own organic fertilizer. Moreover, it’s pretty basic to do with just a few very simple tools. You can still compost your food waste, even if you’re renting a Milwaukee apartment or home. At the same time, though, there are some critical things you have to know to initiate this process. This simple and effective guide will offer you an overview of the practice of composting and the steps you can take to set in motion composting your food scraps.

What is composting?

Composting is the simple process of breaking down organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The finished good, known as compost, can be used to significantly improve the quality of your garden soil. Composting is the best thing to reduce waste, save money on fertilizer, and help the environment.

What can be composted?

Any organic material can be composted, but with that said, a few items certainly break down more swiftly than others. Food scraps, by way, for example, fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells are all real candidates for composting. Yard waste, particularly leaves, grass clippings, and twigs can, on top of everything else, be composted.

How to start composting

If you’re receptive and eager to get cracking on composting, here are the steps you can take:

1. Find a spot for your compost bin. This can be a superb spot for your container if you have a small balcony or patio. Just never forget to ensure it’s in a sunny location so the ingredients will break down properly.
2. Get the right type of bin. There are extremely many different compost bins available, so research to choose the one that best suits your needs. Countless containers are specifically designed for indoor use, while others are used for outdoor spaces.
3. Gather your compostable materials. Various kitchen scraps can be composted, including fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells. You can certainly also add yard waste for example leaves and grass clippings to your bin.
4. Add water to the bin when necessary. The ingredients in your bin need to be moist to break down well, so determine to add water if the bin starts to look dry.
5. Turn the contents of the bin quite regularly. This will help oxygenate the materials and speed up the composting process.
6. The compost should be dark and crumbly as soon as it is ready. It can then be properly added to your garden or used as mulch around your plants.

How to use compost

Compost can be used in multiple ways. Here are some ideas:

• Put it to use as a soil amendment in a garden or planter. Compost can be mixed into the soil to highly enhance drainage and aeration. It can, on top of everything else, help retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil.
• Use it as mulch. Spread a layer of compost around your plants to help handle weeds and retain moisture.
• Use it as a fertilizer. Compost can be used to fertilize your plants. Merely mix it into the soil around the base of the plant.
• Use it to have a potting mix. Compost can be used with other ingredients, for example, perlite or vermiculite, to execute a potting mix for your indoor plants.
• Use it to produce compost tea. This liquid fertilizer can be put together by steeping compost in water for several days. It can then be used to fertilize your plants or to water seedlings.

Composting is certainly a great way to cut down on your environmental impact and help your garden or houseplants increase and flourish. By taking advantage of these trouble-free tips, you can speedily compost at home, even if you’re renting.
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Are you in the market for a new rental home – arguably one with more outdoor space for composting and using your green thumb? If this is you, speak to one of our Milwaukee property managers today or view our listings online.