If you’ve been composting in your yard and you are wondering how to reclaim your compost, that is, the black gold you are producing.
You know that composting is a valuable tool for the gardener. So how can you reclaim your compost from the pile while it is still composting, and use this black gold?
One way to reclaim your compost is to let the pile finish composting completely, and then simply dump it into a container when you are ready to harvest.
When you reclaim your compost in this way, some still need to be returned to a compost bin for further composting, while the rest of your compost can be used for the benefit of your plants.
Step One – Check It’s Ready
When considering whether or not to use compost for your garden, ensure that your compost has reached maturity. If used too soon, immature compost will deplete the nutrients from the soil and can hinder the health of your plants due to the high levels of “breaking down” material in the compost itself.
You may also want to consider that the best time to harvest is during fall so that your compost can have the remaining months of winter to break down completely before the new growth comes in spring.
To determine if your compost is ready for harvesting, mix the compost up with a stick or garden fork. Mature compost will typically appear a medium brown, crumbly texture similar to what you would purchase from a nursery or garden center.
When inspecting, it is important to look for areas with no existing mold, as well as large clumps of unbroken down compost material within the entire heap of compost.
There may be some small bits of unbroken down sticks and hard materials (like nutshells, fruit pits, corn cobs, etc.), but the majority of the compost should be fully broken down with no traces of mold present.
One other telltale sign to indicate that the composting process is finished is temperature. As the compost continues to break down, it generates heat as bacteria break down the organic material. When this decomposition process has come to an end:
- There will no longer be active bacteria present in the heap, and subsequently, the compost will have cooled down.
- You should also be able to detect the smell of mature compost because it should have an earthy scent, unlike a compost pile containing spoiled food, which can give off an unpleasant smell.
If you detect an odour that resembles food, your compost is not yet finished.
Are you ready to move forward to the next stage? If you believe your compost is ready to go, we’ll move on.
Step Two – Empty The Bin
Depending on what type of composter you’ve got will determine how you carry this out. The idea is to transfer all of your compost onto a large plastic sheeting or some sort of alternative so that you can start sorting through it.
For example, if you’re using a Dalek-style composter you could probably just turn the entire bin upside down and dump the contents onto the sheet.
If you’ve built a pile of compost, then you’re likely going to have to use a shovel to scoop it off the ground and place it on the plastic sheet. Regardless of the method used, it’s vital that the majority of your compost should be located close to the compost bin itself.
Step Three – Sort It
To sift your compost and find what large items are in it, use a digging rake or similar tool, such as a garden fork. This is how you find and discard the large items to get your compost ready for future use.
You will want to remove any items that are not intended for composting (i.e. teal bags, plastics, etc.) and put them in a bag for disposal.
Once you have removed all the foreign objects from your compost, you can break your compost down into three separate piles: (1) finished compost, (2) almost finished compost, and (3) compost that needs additional processing.
You can throw any leftover food or garden waste scraps into the compost that still needs processing.
The almost finished compost can be used as mulch in your garden around bushes and shrubs to help control weeds, but you shouldn’t place it around tender plants that you are trying to grow because it takes up nitrogen as it breaks down.
Nitrogen is a critical nutrient for plants and that little bit of nitrogen that your compost is taking away means that some plants in that area will not benefit from nitrogen.
So, the first pile of finished compost is going to be used as mulch. You do not have to differentiate between the compost that is almost ready for use and compost that is not ready for use because all of that material will be going back into your compost bin.
Just make a pile for compost that is finished and a separate pile for compost that needs to go back into your bin.
Step Four – Screen It
Many individuals enjoy screening compost and thus have a quality product that is ready to use with little additional effort on their part.
While it is possible to purchase a screen, you may also build one yourself if you possess any basic tools (saw, drill, etc.).
Take small shovelfuls of compost at a time and gently shake them over the screen; this will produce tiny pieces of compost that can be used for subsequent applications.
Be sure to remove any materials that don’t belong there, or that require additional composting, and place them where they belong.
This is your final “sort”, therefore perform this task very carefully.
Final note: upon harvesting the finished compost, it should appear healthy/brown to black. Additionally, there should not be many live worms present, if any, since they generally eat scraps (food waste), and as such, they would have already moved on to other areas of your compost bin after finishing digestion.
Step Five – Bag It Up
It can be helpful to repurpose containers used to store finished compost since they most likely will be useful for any future bagging. If none are available, you can purchase empty bags, or something similar.
Once you begin harvesting compost, you will need something to hold the harvested compost until it is time to use it again.
Using small bags makes carrying less heavy and is a much easier way to finish the job if you do not have a great deal of help.
They are also very easy to carry around the garden and use on demand. When storing them, make sure to place in a cool, dry location; standing them up keeps them from being damaged/damp.
If storing in a location that is subject to moisture, be certain that the tops have been sealed to help maintain a reasonably dry compost.
You should wait several weeks after bagging compost before using it again to allow it to mature. Over time, this should enable proper maturation of the compost.
Also, remember to avoid incorporating non-composted compost into the soil, as non-composted compost can temporarily steal nitrogen from the soil.
Caution: If using compost in the immediate future, make sure to check for cleanliness and only use a bag of compost that is already mature.and avoid using it around plants that need a lot of nitrogen, or you might have a disaster.
Step Six – Use It On Your Garden
In a few weeks your finished compost is ready for use in your garden!
Compost is usually too concentrated to put directly onto your garden soil; you will need to add some topsoil to dilute the concentrated material before using it. Not doing so can lead to root burn on your plants.
When planting seedlings, be sure to use compost and soil to keep them moist; their best chance of survival is when planted in moist soil.
To maximize the benefits of adding compost to your plant’s soil, water the soil after adding it to ensure a good soak for all of the nutrients. Compost is excellent at holding water, which will be beneficial for the next few days to keep the plant happy.
You can plant directly into soil mixed with compost or add compost to the surface of an existing plant. The nutrients will eventually filter down through the soil and benefit the plant.
Step Seven – Restart Your Bin
Now that you have finished your compost, you should set up one of your compost bins again.
You might choose to clean it out or you might decide to start adding and inputting more items back into it again.
If you plan on using a small bag of your finished compost to kick off the pile, then a couple of handfuls is a good start because it will get everything mixed together and working.
Do not forget about worms; your new pile will need worms too!
Take back anything that did not decompose with the previous bin or bin system, even if you do not feel they are capable of decomposing at all. Eventually, if you keep working with them, they will become part of the soil and nutrient cycling.
And do not forget the most important tip: Make sure you build your compost bin by mixing green and brown materials in equal proportion, and all you have to do now is wait until you can harvest your next round of compost.
Conclusion
When it’s time to harvest your compost bin, be sure to celebrate the success of all the work you’ve put into creating this valuable resource for your garden!
Place some plastic down so that any leftover compost will not end up scattered throughout the yard. Any undecomposed items need to be returned to the bin until they have been fully composted before they have any chance of harming your plants.