LAZY Composting (Low-Effort Compost)

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Composting doesn't need to be hard, confusing, or complicated. By using static compost piles with little regard for ingredients and no turning or labor, gardeners can recycle yard and kitchen waste into wonderful, usable compost. Gardener Scott discusses and demonstrates his method of lazy composting. (Video #276)
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2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 220

@apiecemaker1163 3 года назад

In the woods, nobody turns the compost yet you can flip the leaves over and see dark black soil and worms. Nature will just work so we don’t have to work so hard.I pile my leaves, vegetable scraps, egg shells, etc and pile them up. They breakdown by the next time I need to plant. So glad somebody finally explained this to new gardeners so they don’t stress so much.

@Lauradicus 3 года назад

One thing you have to take into consideration is the presence of microorganisms specifically geared towards decomposition already in place on the forest floor. Nature has been regularly adding new materials to be processed so those organisms have “always” been provided for. Recreating a forest floor scenario in a compost pile is an extensive proposition and normally isn’t what is actually happening since we mostly use materials that break down more readily in our homemade compost piles… different biology is attracted to them.

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

@Lauradicus I'm a newbie,as far as lazy composting can't i just add that compost as a bottom layer before I put my soil in and also add it to the top over time when the soil settles with some manure first and then I'll top it off with the lazy compost or can't I just add the manure to the compost and then i wouldn't have to add it to the top,aren't all of those methods doable???

@MetalBum 11 месяцев назад

Seriously 😅😅

@apiecemaker1163 3 месяца назад

@@Mush-from-Bethlehem-ECD-BMXer Someone else can chime in but it should be great soil. If you’re worried about it at all, you can toss in a little 10-10-10 fertilizer. Be careful not to fertilize against the plants though because it can burn the roots. Honestly, I would try this first year to use what you have. Remember to enjoy the journey. I’ve been gardening 39 years or so and still learn all the time. Have fun had happy gardening. 👩‍🌾💚🥬🥕🍅

@apiecemaker1163 3 месяца назад

@@Mush-from-Bethlehem-ECD-BMXer you are most welcome.

@christineherrmann205 3 года назад

Lazy is definitely my compost journey. Somewhere between 'neglected pile' and 'hugelkultur'. 😂😂

@Craig_Humphries 3 года назад

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve started out hot composting and ended with lazy composting.

@miananni1247 3 года назад

I recommend your incredibly informative shows to everyone. Maria S.

@ElderMidwife 8 месяцев назад

I live in Southern Mississippi. Like you, I prefer working smarter not harder. As I am now 60, I am discovering easier ways to garden all year long. The cold, on going, composting all year, definitely works best.

@holzmann8443 3 года назад

This is how my hot composting attempt turned out. Even though I got it warm once or twice, it ended up like your slow compost. Good to see I can salvage things if I give it a bit more time.

@rameshhabibi8236 3 года назад

This might indicate a lack of nitrogen, maybe u should use a little more green material. When the pile gets stinky and slimy, this indicates a lack of carbon, in this case u should add more brown material.

@nickjohnson9640 3 года назад

I love your channel Scott. Thorough, excellent explanations of what you’re doing and why. Relaxing and informative. Thank you.

@villagesteader3552 3 года назад

I’m too old and weak to be turning compost piles…so lazy composting is my style. In the fall I put my garden to bed for the winter with a blanket of old chicken coup leavings. It sits on top and in the spring it’s broken down enough to scratch it around and mix in…so far so good things are growing wonderfully in the beds that got this treatment! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us.

@clartigue10 3 года назад

You keep editing the dog out of the frame :( we want more doge

@maydaygarden 3 года назад

This is exactly what I needed to see. Over a year ago I started a "Hugelkultur" style hot compost bin for my patio garden in an 18-gal storage tote with holes drilled all over. Then I added worms. So I switched over to cold composting and stopped turning to protect the worms. 5 months later, I keep adding plant material and food scraps and the bed keeps sinking (because the worms are hungry?) and it has turned into this thick black consistency you showed which tells me I'm on the right track. The tomatoes, zucchini and herbs are the best I've ever grown btw. Now everything is covered in 50% shade cloth to help them survive, because, Arizona. Much respect for your valuable experience and guidance sir! 🌞

@silversprout8974 3 года назад

Love this. We through our kitchen scraps right out the window into the garden. Works very well.

@Jojoie 3 года назад

I've done exactly the same thing here in Colorado. Worked just as he said, took 18 months for my three pallet sized bins worth of material to get rolling, filled them in a year and they got going 6 months later. I then separated the compost from the larger materials and put the compost in the garden in a giant pile, and put the big stuff back in the bins for another round. I have since filled all three bins about three times, and have made about 10 yards of excellent dirt in total in the garden pile. That took only three years. I did go get about 2 yards of goat and sheep manure, from some really unique and rare goats and sheep, the manure smelled like wine, it was incredible. I also incorporated about 1 yard of Earth i got from a farmer waaaay out in the middle if nowhere. Putting in about 2 yards of horse manure my friend is giving me in a week or so. I also added akadama, pumice, kiryu, sand, charcoal, crushed black lava rock, crushed red lava rock, hyuga, and perlite. At this point, there are not many things that are not in this pile. You name it, I probably put some in there.. just before I pot my plants up, I add a generous helping of sphagnum peat moss. I have about 200+ varieties of tree and shrub growing in the mixture. They all love it, survived 2 winters and now two heat waves. It's the perfect mix for the extreme and mostly dry climate of Colorado, but may prove to be too heavy for more temperate climates.

@lindaed3594 Месяц назад

My mother was an avid, very successful, very talented garden, flower arranger, crafter, cook etc. She told me to just take your kitchen scraps & put them right into the garden bed, rose bed…right there in with the plants. Her roses were magnificent. So were my friend’s roses when he, as a novice gardener, followed this advice. His avid vegetable gardener neighbour said he’d never seen such newly planted roses develop & thrive as they did!

@johnogrady7308 Месяц назад

❤

@gardeningjunkie2267 Год назад

I first got into cold composting by accident. I had left a bag of lawn and leaf clippings in a bag over winter, which somehow had never made it to the street for pickup. When I went in the spring to finally move it, it was already compost. I certainly had not touched it all winter long. I was amazed and ever since, I do a winter compost pile. If you use primarily leaves, it will decompose pretty fast and you'll have wonderful compost for the spring.

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

Ok when spring came how exactly did you use that compost???

@gardeningjunkie2267 Год назад

@@mercedesbenzs600bash On my raised beds. My raised beds are extremely productive and have beautiful soil. I do add some fertilizer to them every year as well but mostly leaf compost.

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

@gardeningjunkie2267 Oh ok,I've been hearing leaves are really good...

@rebeccaivarsson2015 2 года назад

I do this lazy compost in Sweden and I love it , so easy and almost no work . I leave my compost for 2 yr and then it is almost like black soil and so nice and fat and my plants love it .

@franksinatra1070 3 года назад

That is similar to how I compost Scott. But I do turn it once after the pile gets very large. I use a lot of leaves and grass clippings so it does grow fast and it does heat up. I guess it's more of a hybrid approach. I also use my small rototiller to chop and blend everything as I'm turning it. I apply it to the top of my beds usually in the fall and then cover that with half rotted leaves. Some of it is clumpy and sometimes it finishes off nice and smooth. I guess it depends how much of a hurry I am to get it into the garden.

@terrimeredith3069 3 года назад

I have a pile that wavers between sort of hot and lazy. I didn't try to have a hot pile because I just don't have enough stuff to build one, though I occasionally "stir" it. I discovered my pile periodically heats up to the point of producing steam. I have access twice weekly to about 7-8 pounds of coffee grounds and the filter paper used in the machine. That and shredded cardboard is mostly what goes in with occasional kitchen scraps and plant refuse. I use vinegar and ammonia for household cleaning, so I also dump that right onto the pile when I'm finished with it. I've noticed that it really heats up after dumping the discarded vinegar or ammonia on it. Though most of my pile tends to be "green", I've had no bad smells. The fact that my pile gets hot is amazing to me because I don't think it's ever been higher than18".

@earlshine453 3 года назад

3 weeks ago I opened the front end of my lazy compost bin. Now the wild birds are loosening it up and are scratching for free to catch the critters in there. No need for chickens.

@ToddfromCalifornia 3 года назад

Compost happens . lol I'm some where between lazy and warm with my piles . Some times I'll turn and water it but I keep adding more on top . I got another bin recently so I add every thing in the new bin and let the old do it's thing . Thank for you informative videos .

@Htarlov 2 года назад

I do exactly that with kitchen scraps, old hay, and chicken manure and didn't know it has the name "lazy composting". I have a lot of earthworms in my final compost.

@stephenhope7319 3 года назад

I only had room for a "Free Garden Earth" 82 gallon plastic compost bin that I have been using since 2015. I guess its called a "hot"bin and it does produce black garden gold quickly!! I love it. Its a black plastic bin in the Sacramento sun and I load it with kitchen scraps and paper clippings and it churns out the best organic matter at the bottom. I even rarely have to water it. I like to keep it full and it rewards me monthly with nice compost .So easy, no odor, no mixing ( ok ,rarely)and no adding water.

@stephenhope7319 3 года назад

I should add I placed it on a stainless steel mess to keep out rodents but earthworms are loving this pile. I get dozens of earthworms each shovel full and they go into my planters with the compost.

@soultrekcentral 3 года назад

nothing beats digging up the black gold in your compost pile :)

@rick6605 3 года назад

This is great! Mulch with chunky compost, let the worms in the beds do the work!

@BestBirth 3 года назад

I have several compost bins and every once in a while I turn one into the next bin over. I don't worry how fast it happens. I still get compost.

@wardroland270 3 года назад

Thanks GS. Great job. Good info.

@shadyman6346 3 года назад

You had me at lazy...

@Weissklangi 3 года назад

That's an interesting idea. I have a few plastic composters and used the hot composting method. But in the beginning I only added a few things, like in the lazy composting way, I had around. Right now, I use one composter for my bokashi bin (after fermenting it for 14 days) and it turnes into soil really fast (14-21 days). In the other composter goes the garden clippings. I'm still thinking how to combine those two methods (Bokashi+lazy), to break down the lazy way faster.

@Rainman97x 3 года назад

Something I'm trying this year is hot composting a large pile until it cools, then spreading it out, planting potatoes in it and heavily mulching with leaves. I've had 2 beds succeed and 2 fail, though I think the failures have something to do with the timing of planting.

@matthayes533 3 года назад

Interesting. I literally just planted a potato tower this way.

@heidiclark6612 3 года назад

Great information as always! Turning compost pile is not my thing. I have had a tumbler type of composter in the past. I turn it if I want to or leave it sit

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

Excellent information my man,very much appreciated 👍🏾 👏🏾 New Jersey...

@grizzly3956 3 года назад

You had me at lazy...

@wildchook745 2 года назад

I have my lazy pile on the ground. As long as I add the green, brown, and kitchen scraps to it, it's good to go. My dad's eyes would go boing, boing to hear me talk about compost piles. We've never done it growing up as our soil was naturally rich in the tropics. It was only living in Australia the need to amend my soil or buy compost, make compost. Everything grew well with less fuss. I see the need for it in my current home as I have clay soil.

@gimcrack555 2 года назад

I mix my methods. Cold winters. I don't even touch it. Other than adding more material to it. Right now it's warmer out. I actually got 6 wheel barrels out of one of my bin's already. Now to the one that is the newest pile. Got soil at the bottom of the pile. Moving the pile that isn't broken up yet to the new bin. I always shift what is left behind, to get fine dirt. Not sure how much dirt I have right now. I got dirt one time in 48 days. Using the hot method and turning after a shell is created. So times I do the hot method. No time or weather has other plans. I do it the lazy way. Either or I'm getting soil all the time. Either a fast way or slow way. It's free other than some minor labor. Better than having to pay for it.

@dannyhughes4889 3 года назад

I found 4 strong Plastic Pallets, used one for a base and the rest for sides to build a compost bin....sides resting on the base in case I want to move the unit at some stage. Then I took 6 x12cm diameter plastic pipes 1mtr long, drilled a series of 10 mm holes all along the lengths and positioned them vertically and evenly on the base. I packed some soil around the bases to hold them in place and commenced building 'Lazania' layers. In theory air should flow freely under the unit and up the pipes obviating the need for turning. Time will tell.

@scrappyquilter102 3 года назад

I have a new raised bed which I have been slowly filling with the "lazy composting" method. Now I have a half-filled raised bed full of little squash-zucchini-melons! Who knows what will come of it? I'll wait and see. Part of the fun of gardening is all the experimenting!

@GARDENER42 Месяц назад

I have 1m & 1.2m cube compost bays & over the years, I've found the latter are better & that generally, I wasn't adding enough carbon & often, not enough water/'recycled' beer. I try to mix what I add but don't go out of my way to make it perfect but generally, the most recent layers are up around 60°C. Once a bay is full, I'll leave it a month, then turn it into the next bay, where it heats up again & from experience, it's ready to spread on my beds six months after that. Not quite the lazy method, as it does get a single turn but pretty much effortless.

@kengarrett1116 3 года назад

Hi Scott. Here in Melbourne, Australia, I have 3 x 400 liter (106 US gallons) plastic compost bins. At first, I had them in a sunny position, but found they didn't work very well because I forgot to keep them watered and they got too hot in the summer. So I shifted them to a shady spot in my garden. In the centre of the lids I drilled a 1/8" hole and sat the lid, upside down, on the bin. The hole was small enough to keep most pests out but the lid acted as a catchment for the rain and the water would drip through into the bin, keeping the compost damp. I then bought some compost worms, this was 25 years ago, and I have never had to buy compost worms again. Occasionally I would get the odd rat nesting in the bin so I discovered that by sitting the bin on wire mesh, it stopped rats and mice burrowing under and into the bin. Every time I spread my compost on the garden beds, I am also adding lots of worms to those beds.

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

That sounds like a great design. Thanks for sharing.

@l.dschick-inn-palacecrafts6174 9 месяцев назад

I love your channel 💝 very helpful. I do the cold process compost. My back can't handle the work. My garden is still small. But, i do sift my compost before i add it to my garden beds. Any un broken down chips of wood is added back to the other beginning compost. Ty

@djchiesa3567 2 года назад

I'm so grateful for this post as a widow now and working my ranch/farm alone I cannot do what all my husband did with the tractor etc. etc. so this type of composting helps me a lot. Also I have about 20 pallets a beekeeper left behind that I can utilize now.. I also love gardener Scott's video on the cinder block raised bed as building a wood one is not easy for me. thank you for posting.

@paulsoutbackgardenaustrali7674 2 года назад

Wish I can help u if u here downunder..

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

A cinder block raised bed huh,that sounds interesting..

@user-rv9xw4np9p Месяц назад

To increase oxygen to your pile without needing to turn it, you can add a pipe with holes in it (or a chicken wire tube) in the middle of the pile. Air only penetrative about one foot from the outside. Once you include an earation pipe, you won't have smell issues and it will decompose faster.

@yeevita 3 года назад

Also known as Nature.

@LynnMTHA 2 года назад

"throw your stuff in a pile and walk away?" Hey! I've been doing all along so far.

@robertdeschu4367 Год назад

What I’m learning fundamentally about the rules of composting boils down to two major ideas for us practically. We either need to have a lot of patience and put in small work, or we put in a lot of work and get quicker resulte

@JohnDoe-sz5jh 3 года назад

I take fallen leaves and lawn clippings, mix them up and mulch them together with a lawn mower. It's ready to use in 2 to 3 weeks.

@amandachamberlain3169 2 года назад

When I first started composting I tried doing the hot pile with bins, but I didn't have the time to maintain it and it drew mice which didn't work for me or my neighbors. I got rid of the bins and just dedicated a space each year in the garden where I could bury it. It builds up a bit over the year and gets turned some when I dig a new hole and no more mice or smell. I choose a new spot in the fall and let the old one season over winter then I can redistribute it, level it off and plant there the next season. I like that there are so many different ways to do it, there's a method for everyone.

@OutdoorScienceDad 3 года назад

I’ll probably turn it some but I’m definitely collecting 6 pallets to make this style compost bin. I love it!

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

Did u ever make it???

@OutdoorScienceDad Год назад

@@mercedesbenzs600bash Yes, but only for my cold compost pile. I built another from cedar fence planks for my hot pile.

@johanmelin3514 3 года назад

How about weedseeds? I havet learned that you need a high enough temperature (+60C) in your compost for weedseeds to die off. Do you need to be more careful of what you put in your pile, if you go cold?

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

You do need to be more careful if you want to kill weed seeds, or be selective in the material you compost and don't add weeds that have gone to seed. I have so many weed seeds that blow in on strong winds that I'm not that concerned by seeds that might be in the compost.

@stephenmoberg8807 3 года назад

Even lazier - I use shredded leaves with layers of Black Kow composted cow manure in a trash can. After 6 months I have leaf mold ( I think ) that I use as a mulch. Every watering it releases nutrients into my raised bed or container. Ty for your videos!

@nikkitronic80 3 года назад

I'm all about lazy compost! I just dug out some beautiful compost from the bottom of my year old pile and used it for new pumpkin beds. I have been trying hot compost for the first time this year.. and so far ok. It's kind a pain to have to turn it so often. I have a feeling my hot pile will turn into a lazy pile tho. Lol thanks for another great video Scott! ❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️

@famfilms1 2 года назад

Thank you for making this videos. You remind me of my former gardener manager who really was my mentor.

@CB-sr8ee 3 года назад

Love it! I have several lazy compost piles and a 2 barrel tumbler. When my tumbler runs out of compost I pull some materials from the lazy piles into the tumbler.

@tassiegirl1991 3 года назад

Thank you. This has been very useful for me. I don’t have grass so no clippings just a tiny garden but growing veggies in grow bags in one area I started making compost in cage type structure 1mx1mx1m trying to layer but finding it difficult to gather the right amount of needs for hot compost so decided patience would be better for me and add whatever I have plus some extra brown material when adding kitchen scraps. It looks like first lot is breaking down but winter now has so will check in spring more closely.

@mercedesbenzs600bash Год назад

Did the compost come out good???

@Im-just-Stardust 2 года назад

Such a clear video, very well explained it helped me a LOT.

@Javirero 3 года назад

5:53 good doggo sits

@MetalBum 11 месяцев назад

I like this

@honeydew4576 11 месяцев назад

Dr. Elaine Ingham says that if you turn the compost pile, the nematodes split. You can lure them back using certain methods, but if you turn it a second time, they leave for good.

@josephdrach2276 10 месяцев назад

I have used all the methods of creating compost you mentioned and made. I also have had fine results using partially rotted compost as a mulch and adding manure on top of it. My raspberry canes popped right through the mulch, but little else. After 3 years, I pulled the mulch away. The soil was near black and crumbley. I have done trench composting and on location composting, the latter will brown leaves and fish scrap. Frankly, both compost and Peat Moss go well with manure. I livei . an apartment building Now and would love to have some land for gardening. Good luck with your garden. I'm lazy like you but I still have gotten good results.

@shazartist 3 года назад

I am into Lazy composting :)

@wudangmtn 4 месяца назад

Lazy composting sounds like the method for me; I don’t care how long it takes. 😜

@dougmorissette459 2 года назад

Great instructional video. If you are in a climate like I am where we get a very large amount of rain should the compost bin have a cover so that it isn’t saturated all through the rainy seasons? Thanks.

@GardenerScott 2 года назад

Yes, a tarp or cover over the bin can help keep moisture level consistent.

@kingkongprimpinella774 2 дня назад

If you can't turn the compost over every now and then, that might be an option. But then I would recommend using vertical pipes or something similar when setting up the compost and then removing them again at the end. This way air can get in. This mess would be too mushy for me, but as I said, if there's no other way, then this is better than nothing. Greatings from Germany.

@thewoolista8691 Год назад

Great video but I think I missed something. When do you move it to the second bin?

@GardenerScott Год назад

I usually don't. That's what makes it lazy. If I'm feeling energetic I may move it after a month or so, but most of the time it stays in the same spot.

@thewoolista8691 Год назад

@@GardenerScott thanks I'm putting one up this weekend to try this method

@dogslobbergardens6606 3 года назад

We just moved to a new place this spring. We're using a 30-gallon garbage can to hot compost kitchen scraps, but all our other "waste" organic material (weeds, grass clippings, fallen leaves, old plants etc) is either mixed in at the bottom of new beds to compost in place, used as green mulch (which soon becomes basically straw once the sun has been on it a while) or in lazy compost piles. It all ends up back in our soil one way or another, and overall I think it's pretty efficient since I'm putting very little labor into it. *Some* weeds are so resilient that their roots may survive a cool compost pile and either grow in it or pop up in your garden once you apply the compost; buttercups are known for this. From what I've read the best way to make sure weeds' roots are dead is to drown them - simply leave them soak, totally submerged in a bucket of water for a couple weeks. Then they can apparently be added to your compost pile and shouldn't cause any problems later.

@GrowInGraceGarden 3 года назад

Thank you for this informative video. This is more of my approach to composting. I’ve watched a ton of composting videos, but this one really clicked for me.

@sandy-rr1by 3 года назад

i keep a layer of cardboard on top of my lazy compost bin, haven't been plagued too much with weeds.

@andreaburgard6736 3 года назад

Thank you for this video. I have been stressing over not being able to get out to my compost bin regularly to turn it and water it. Now I can relax.

@eringerych6616 3 года назад

Lazy right up my alley! Tried hot compost, it is too dry here, I live in a cold desert, in Nevada.

@crystalitogallo 3 года назад

I get volunteer plants in my lazy pile. I pull avocado plants often. I think I have peppers popping up and sweet potatoes growing. I have a problem with ants though.

@maydaygarden 3 года назад

Same. I had fire ants and tried alot of diy organic remedies then I found the holy grail. Get a bag of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) and apply it to the ants, better yet if you find the nest. It not only solves the ant issues, it's safe to use around pets and it won't harm the earth worms if you have them. It has the consistency of a cornstarch powder so it's dusty. I got a brand called Harris which came with a special bellows type applicator which you fill partially and blow it specifically where you aim it. No.More.Ants.Full.Stop,

@saminairfan45 3 года назад

I have three black tumbler and I add browns and greens. In about two months it’s broke down and I add to my outside worm bin and they do the rest of the work

@tranthiduyen615 3 года назад

Chúc anh cuối tuần vui vẻ ạ.lời chúc đến từ Việt Nam

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

Cảm ơn rât nhiều

@jefffarris1288 3 года назад

Hi Scott, great video. One thing you did not mention that I am noticing with my cold composting is you do get a lot of weeds, oftentimes from your former plants that went to seed and you composted them. I must say, though, I am getting some great volunteer cilantro and dill plants. And dozens of volunteer tomato plants. I kept a number of the cilantro and dill plants. Didn't need the tomato plants, but they could be used. So there are plusses and minuses to both systems.

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

Good point. I don't have a problem pulling the sprouts when they appear and then add them back to the pile.

@Azurta1221 Год назад

What about food scrapes attracting mice and rats? This is why I prefer a “trash bin composting system” as nasty creatures cannot get inside and have a feast.

@JBra1382 3 года назад

What if you stirred it up on occasion?

@charlesvantassell8129 3 года назад

What are your opinions on tumbler composting? Is tumbler composting considered hot composting?

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

While they can produce good compost, I'm not a fan of tumblers for the same reasons I like lazy composting. For a tumbler to work it needs to be filled full with the right blend of materials. It is a form of hot composting because the turning adds oxygen and heats the material inside.

@jasonmcelveen6295 3 года назад

I just throw scraps into 5gal bucket for a month then add to a pile of dirt in yard. The end.

@beginnercalisthenics 3 года назад

Thanks for your videos, Gardener Scott!

@ElizabethCasey-sg4rl 14 дней назад

After reading Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring, back in 1962, my mom subscribed to "Organic Gardening Magazine" and we swiftly became a composting family. Mom taught me to gather seaweed at the bay; she paid me a quarter a wheel barrow to gather pony manure a few blocks over: and she made a compost convert of me before I was even a teenager. Like mom, I've always been a lazy composter. I'm a Uber-lazy composter. Instead of doing hot composting to get that fine texture at the end, I just screen out the chunky bits when I want to use compost as a soil amendment. Love your videos, Scott and was surprised to realize today that I'm not a subscriber even though I think I've seen everything you posted, probably at least a few times each. I am now an official subscriber and look forward to more and more of your fantastic teaching videos.

@GardenerScott 14 дней назад

Thanks! I appreciate your support.

@JBra1382 3 года назад

What is everything you can put in the bins? I’m completely new at this. Sorry if this should be an easy question. Can I add Horse manure, chicken manure, hay, old hay, etc? When you say kitchen scraps, is that cooked, raw, just vegetables and fruits, or can you add any foods, like pastas or bread?

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

Organic materials are the primary ingredients, raw or cooked. I have other videos that discuss it more.

@itsmegiorgio 2 года назад

Stupid question: doesn't adding kitchen scraps on top attract pests such as mice?

@GardenerScott 2 года назад

Possibly, if you have a mice problem. Burying it can reduce that problem.

@laurabehenna7950 3 года назад

Hi Scott, I'm eager to see the other videos you mentioned at the end of this one!

@tirusew 4 месяца назад

1 1/2 years it seems that you don’t have a lot there and wasn’t broken down to be used even after that. But I do it differently with the same type of result using 80% leaves and probably I am guessing 20% kitchen scrap adding to it throughout the 2 years period. But I could use part of the pile every year going to the bottom of the pile if I need to.

@tirusew 4 месяца назад

I add the kitchen scraps at different locations of the pile giving the previous scraps to break down on and on. I love the fact I am not contributing my kitchen scraps to go waste in somewhere adding to the problem

@dermguy5000 11 месяцев назад

Gardner Scott, is anything fair game for a pile like this? Can I put my tomato plants and cucumber plants etc. in there even if they have some powdery mildew?

@GardenerScott 11 месяцев назад

I put tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash with powdery mildew in my pile. While the pile needs sustained temperature of 160F for a long period to kill spores (it's possible), I figure the powdery mildew spores are already everywhere in my garden and will blow on to the plants again next year so I might as well benefit from more compost. Soil and compost microbes do a good job at neutralizing many of the fungi and spores, but not all will be killed with lazy composting.

@keithshumaker6402 3 года назад

I like God’s way cold but it does take longer

@melanieorsted8181 Год назад

Question: Zone 8a here and it gets hot. However, I have not yet been able to heat the standalone compost pile to proper temeratures. I am concerned about possible pathogens not getting terminated by a cold pile. I do practice throwing away bad greens with issues. However, how do I know I will not be eating a vegetable that may have something that could make one sick if pile is not heated to temperature?

@GardenerScott Год назад

By adding compost to your soil, the microbes in the soil will continue to break it down. There are few pathogens that survive that process.

@rummysworld7531 Год назад

Throw your scraps in your chicken coop to accelerate the process

@hendrymuljadi739 Год назад

If I only add greens and browns into the compost pile will this invite rodents to it? I would like to start doing this, but don’t really want to invite mice and other rodents Please advise

@GardenerScott Год назад

Rodents might be attracted to cool compost. To avoid that, try hot composting. The high heat of the pile is enough to keep rodents away.

@robertmattner6610 3 года назад

Great teaching video. What i Needed.

@JBra1382 3 года назад

Is there any dangers to composting? Like putting bad stuff in that transfers to plants??

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

There is the possibility of adding contaminated matter to compost and it being transferred.

@thenaturalhuman9568 2 года назад

Can you use the soil under natural leave buildup etc if you have access to forest area, or does that introduce pathogens

@GardenerScott 2 года назад

You can use it. There shouldn't be many pathogens in a natural setting.

@tessamoland797 9 месяцев назад

Would I be able to keep summer grass clippings in a bin until the fall when I can start adding dead leaves?

@GardenerScott 9 месяцев назад

Absolutely. I always keep dried grass in bags for that purpose.

@rg-mi5hh 2 года назад

We compost in plastic tubs with lids. We only use veggie and fruit peelings, washed egg shells, leaves, tea grounds, coffee grounds. No grass or cardboard or paper to attract termites.

@dtanner7 2 года назад

For the pallets, how important is it that they are HT vs chemical treated?

@GardenerScott 2 года назад

HT is better, but the chemical treated can still be used.

@anitadavis6565 5 месяцев назад

Question. What would happen if i were to turn it and introduce some oxygen from time to time?

@GardenerScott 5 месяцев назад

It would decompose faster.

@SecondComingTwice 3 года назад

I wouldn't recommend putting your "lazy compost" near any Bermuda Grass unless you're growing the weed with roots in hell on purpose.

@wyominghome4857 2 года назад

I need a recipe for 8-10 month compost. I don't want to bother with turning, but neither do I want to wait 1-2 years.

@_Mikekkk 3 года назад

I did that lazy composting piles for about 4 years now. Just added material and did not turn even once. Size about 1.20 x 1.20 x 1.20 meters. Recently I finally turned it. Top of it is quite good compost, but at the bottom I have layer which was composting without oxigen. It smells, and looks like solid mazut. I am not sure if I can use it in gardening, so I removed it into separate pile.

@GardenerScott 3 года назад

Once the compost at the bottom airs out and the anaerobic bacteria die, it's fine to use in the garden.

@_Mikekkk 3 года назад

@@GardenerScott Thanks for info.