December 7th

By Mutt Mulligan

Winter composting tips

Just because the weather turns cold doesn’t mean you can’t continue to compost. In fact, the freezing and thawing cycle can help your compost pile better break down the materials for use in the spring.

Here are TurfMutt’s top tips for composting this winter so you can have a pile of “garden gold” for your living landscape come spring!

• Consider your climate. If you live in a relatively warm climate, you can keep composting as usual throughout the winter. But those in colder climates will need to take a few compost precautionary steps.
• Too much moisture can suffocate your pile. If you get lots of winter moisture, consider building a roof structure over the top of your pile to protect it from unwanted precipitation.
• Place a tarp over your pile to keep moisture out and heat in. The more heat your pile generates, the better for the bacteria charged with decomposition.
• If you compost in heaps, you might also need to build a structure around the pile to maintain the internal heat. If you compost in a container of some sort, you can skip this step.

If you have questions about how to successfully compost during the winter in your community, contact your local county extension office.