Beginner's Guide to Backyard Composting

By Margaret Ellis

Lead Garden Writer — Hortiena Editorial Team

Composting is one of the most rewarding garden practices you can start. You will turn kitchen scraps into rich dark "black gold" that supercharges your soil — and it is easier than you think.

Why Compost?

Compost improves every type of soil. In Florida's sandy soil, it adds water retention and nutrients. It introduces beneficial microorganisms, earthworms and fungi that make nutrients available to plant roots — completely free.

What to Compost

Greens (nitrogen-rich): Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings, plant trimmings, eggshells.

Browns (carbon-rich): Dry leaves, cardboard, newspaper, paper bags, wood chips, straw.

Never compost: Meat, fish, dairy, oily foods, diseased plants or pet waste.

Setting Up Your Compost Bin

Choose a spot with good drainage and partial shade. A 3x3x3 foot pile is the minimum size. In Florida's heat, you can have finished compost in as little as 4–8 weeks during summer if you maintain your pile properly.

The Golden Ratio

Aim for 3 parts browns to 1 part greens by volume. Turn the pile every 1–2 weeks using a pitchfork to introduce oxygen and speed decomposition dramatically.