Composting can be less difficult than many think

By Angela O'Callaghan (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 | 1 a.m.

Angela O'Callaghan

Several years ago, I sent out a quick survey to gardeners around the valley, asking them a number of questions concerning compost. I wanted to know if they composted, if so, how they did it; and if not, why not?

The answers were very enlightening to me. My assumption had been that anyone who gardened would also compost, which is one of the best ways to improve soil health, fertility and tilth. This was far from the truth. I found that people who have good gardening skills were not necessarily in agreement about composting. In fact, several seemed to have some real misunderstanding about the whole thing.

For instance, some avid desert gardeners told me that they did not compost since they had removed the turf from their yard. They believed that only grass clippings from lawns were compost materials. Other people told me that they did not compost because things just did not break down, no matter what they tried. This was similar to the thinking of other people who said the Mojave was so hot and dry that composting could not occur.

These were not the only reasons in people's replies — some people assumed that it was too time-intensive and also took too much space. Still others stated they did not want to deal with the foul odors they were certain would occur.

As if those were not enough reasons not to compost, quite a few people stated that their homeowners' association forbade composting.

Well, short of a massive public relations campaign, I do not see how to change HOA covenants, codes and restrictions. All the other concerns are easier to address; I hope that if you have any of these, you will change your mind.

First – any kind of plant material can be composted, not just grass. As long as they are not infested with insects or infected with disease, most plant materials will break down just fine. Keeping the system moist is the key here. Once I saw a bumper sticker that said "Compost happens". That is the truth; it is only a matter of breakdown rate.

Even the most enthusiastic composters I know work on it no more than 30 minutes per week, so it need not be a major time consumer. If it is kept well aerated, it should not smell foul; if fact, it should have a woodsy aroma.

Composting can take a lot of space or very little, depending on the gardener's preference. A three-bin system can require 81 cubic feet, while a worm bin might need only two.

To learn more about composting, you can attend my class, which will be offered on Nov. 14 at the Cooperative Extension Lifelong Learning Center. registration is required, so call the master gardener helpline for information.

­Angela O’Callaghan is the area specialist in social horticulture for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached c/o the Home News, 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074, or editor@hbcpub.com.