Soil and Compost
How to Start Composting
Soil and Compost · 4 min read · Updated November 14, 2026
You start composting by layering green scraps, like vegetable peels and grass clippings, with brown material, like dry leaves and shredded paper, then keeping the pile damp and turning it now and then. Microbes do the real work. Your job is just to feed them a fair mix and some air.
Compost is the cheapest way to feed garden soil, and finished compost is the heart of a good raised bed garden soil mix. It also cuts the kitchen waste your home sends away each week.
Greens and browns, the whole recipe
Greens are the wet, fresh stuff: fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and fresh grass clippings. They supply nitrogen and get the pile heating up. Browns are the dry, dead stuff: fallen leaves, straw, shredded newspaper, and small twigs. They supply carbon and keep the pile from turning slimy.
A rough target is about three parts browns to one part greens by volume. Too many greens and the pile smells. Too many browns and it just sits there. When in doubt, add more browns. A layer of browns over every kitchen scrap drop also keeps flies away.
Set up a simple pile or bin
Pick a spot on bare ground in easy reach of the kitchen and the garden, with some drainage so the pile does not sit in a puddle. A simple bin, a wire ring, or just a heap all work. A tumbler is handy on a small lot since it turns with a spin and keeps animals out.
Start with a layer of coarse browns for air, then build up in layers as scraps come. Any size works, but a pile about 3 feet across heats up best. Tiny piles still rot down, just slower.
Keep it damp, turned, and clean
Keep the pile about as damp as a wrung out sponge. Water it in dry spells, and cover it in wet ones so heavy rain does not soak it through. Turn it with a fork every week or two to mix the outside into the hot center. Each turning speeds things up.
Skip meat, dairy, oils, and pet waste. They smell, draw animals, and can carry germs you do not want near food beds. Also skip weeds that have gone to seed, unless your pile gets truly hot, or you will plant those seeds with the compost later.
Use the finished compost
Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and smells like a forest floor. You will not be able to tell what it was made from. Sift out any big unfinished bits and toss them back in the pile for another round.
Work finished compost into beds before planting, or spread it around growing plants as a top dressing. It is the key part of filling a raised garden bed, and crops like the ones in our guide on how to grow potatoes grow noticeably better in soil rich with it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does compost take?
In a hot, well kept pile, a few months. In a pile you mostly leave alone, 6 to 12 months. Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and smells like soil, with no scraps you can still name.
Why does my compost smell bad?
A bad smell means the pile is too wet or has too many greens. Mix in dry browns like leaves or shredded paper and turn the pile to add air. It should smell earthy, not sour.
Will compost attract rats or raccoons?
Kept right, very few. A pile with a good cover of browns on top, no meat or dairy, and no pet waste rarely draws animals. Skip meat, bones, grease, and pet waste entirely.
Can compost replace fertilizer?
Compost mainly feeds soil life and improves soil texture. It does add some nutrients, but think of it as a soil builder first. Heavy feeders may still want a balanced fertilizer on top.
Do I need a special bin?
Yes. A simple wire bin, a plastic tote with holes, or a corner pile all work. A tumbler turns easier and keeps animals out, but the pile does not care what holds it.