Compost pit in the garden. Do-it-yourself compost pit, manufacturing options from any material - step by step instructions. Composting methods - with and without oxygen

A compost pit is a place where organic waste is disposed of. All garden waste here decomposes under the influence of microorganisms. This later becomes the basis for organic fertilizers. How make your own compost pit hands reviewed in this article.

Such heaps in some way are on every personal plot. These are ordinary heaps into which garbage is dumped. But such garbage can be turned into valuable fertilizer. To do this, you need to design the pits correctly or make special boxes. In this case, you can increase the amount of valuable fertilizer and the speed of its creation.

Making a compost pit correctly is quite easy, using improvised tools and building materials that can be found. in the country and any household plot.

Compost pit principles

Why make these pits and what is the use of them? In such pits, optimal conditions are created for the vital activity of microorganisms, bacteria and worms, which contribute to the speedy formation of compost and increase the rate of its formation. These organisms live under certain conditions:

• sufficient humidity;
• elevated temperature;
• enough oxygen.

What is needed for all of the above conditions to be met.

• The required volume of the compost facility must be at least 1 cubic meter. This will keep the temperature stable.
• The gaps on the sides of the structure are made for the regular supply of oxygen to the inner layers of the compost heap.
• The top cover must be removable so that moisture can flow in sufficient quantities.
• The bottom of the structure should be on the ground so that worms and bacteria can get inside.
• The front wall must be removable or discarded so that the finished compost can be removed.

Watch the video! Making a compost bin

For the manufacture of a compost pit, you can use those materials that are found in the summer cottage: the remains of slate, corrugated board, boards, mesh or car tires. It is possible to build a pit with more durable materials, for example, drive out of brick. Special structures made of plastic or metal are also sold, they are easier to install and transport.

Important! The compost pit should be installed at least 20 m from sources of drinking water. It is not permissible for water from the pit to flow towards the well or pool.

Choosing a place for a compost pit

The compost pit should not become a source of groundwater contamination. No need to make a hole in places where water stagnates.

Things to remember when choosing a place for a pit:

• 20 meters to places where drinking water accumulates. These are wells, wells, ponds. Be sure to make sure that rainwater does not drain in their direction from the compost pit.
• 10 meters to residential buildings. It is necessary to take into account the buildings of neighbors. Be sure to follow the direction of the wind so that the unpleasant smell does not overshadow the rest. An excellent location option would be the far corner of the garden so that the pit does not interfere and is not conspicuous.
• Keep a distance from trees and shrubs so that they do not feed on decay products that fall into groundwater. This can damage both the plantings themselves and the fruits.
• Partial shade would be a good place. The bright sun will dry out the contents too much, it will have to be constantly moistened.
• In order not to spoil the external impression, the pit is installed in an inconspicuous place. It would be nice to lay a path to it so that you can bring filling to the pit on a wheelbarrow.

Advice! The compost pit can be decorated if desired. Plant climbing flowers or put up a fence.

Making a compost pit with your own hands

To make a compost pit with their own hands, they use improvised tools and materials that can be found in most yards. A good design will last a long time, helping to turn garbage and waste into fertilizer that will be useful to plants. There are several types of structures, consider the design of each of them and manufacturing options.

Compost pit in the soil

To create a compost pit in the ground, you must:

1. Choose the right place.
2. Remove the top layer of soil of arbitrary length, 1.5 m wide.
3. Go deeper by 0.5m.
4. Pour a sand cushion to drain excess water from the bottom.

• Cut branches (for drainage and aeration of the heap);
• Grass;
• Dry leaves;
• Sawdust;
• Food waste;
• Manure;
• weeds.

Between the layers it is necessary to sprinkle earth or peat and spill water. If it is necessary to speed up the process, before laying all the contents, it can be chopped with a shovel.

The pile should rise a maximum of a meter from the ground, its total height will be 1.5m. From above you need to cover with something, you can slate. When the temperature is very high outside, it is necessary to pour water.

In just two seasons, the whole pile will turn into fertilizer under the most common conditions. This method is the most economical and simple.
Additionally, EM preparations can be used. In order to process waste for microorganisms in the pit, a temperature of +4 degrees is sufficient.

Board compost pit

A compost box is made from boards for ease of use and speed up the recycling process. Size 1 * 1.5m is the most convenient and suitable for these purposes.

Phased construction of the structure from the boards:

• Location definition.
• Markup.
• Removal of the top layer of turf 10 cm thick.
• In the corners it is necessary to dig in copper pipes, insert bars that will serve as supports. If necessary, they must be supported.
• Wooden materials to be used are recommended to be treated with protective agents. When rotting, substances are released that will damage the boards.
• It is necessary to choose boards that are stronger and fix them with self-tapping screws. Between the boards leave a distance of up to 5 cm, so that the air can pass into the pile.
• A distance of approximately 30 cm is left below, so that ready-made fertilizers can be selected, and new ones will be reported from above.
• As an alternative to boards, construction pallets are used. They can be connected to each other or disassembled into separate boards, from which to build a box.
• It is necessary to take care that the pit is covered from heavy rainfall and bright sun. To do this, you can make a convenient cover on which to adapt the handle. It will be convenient to fix it on the back wall.

It is necessary to lay the contents there through the top, and from the bottom to get ready-made fertilizer. The procedure remains the same as when laying a hole in the ground.

Slate compost pit

One of the positive properties of slate is its strength. The material will not be affected by the rotting of the contents. You can choose the one that is convenient or available.

It can be both flat and sheet version.
How to make a composter:

• Mark up and deepen the sheets prepared in advance. From the outside, they are fixed with a crate made of wood or metal.
• A more durable option would be to use recessed metal pipes at the corners, to which a frame of bars is attached and sheathed with slate.

If there are wooden parts, they are covered with special means so that they do not rot under the influence of the contents. The lid can be made from plywood or boards. In such a device, the front wall is made 2 times lower than the rest. You can also use a film or material for shelter, because it is very convenient to fix them on solid foundations.

Compost pit from corrugated board

There is one plus in using corrugated board for the manufacture of a compost box - you can immediately choose a material that is not afraid of corrosion.

How to design correctly:

• Choose locations and make a base. You can use metal or wood.
• The size of the sheets can be adjusted to the size of the box. In it, if desired, you can build several sections.
• The base is made according to the same principle as in a wooden box.
• The corrugated board is fixed from the outside, self-tapping screws with gaps of 3-5 cm are used for this.
• The top is made of boards or plywood. You can cover the frame with a protective compound to extend its service life.

Advice! In the warm season, the metal is very hot, so you need to monitor the level of moisture in the contents.

Metal mesh compost bin

You can also make a waste container from a metal mesh. Then you need to do it in the form of a cylinder. The undoubted advantages of this design are that air enters it well, the contents are ventilated, and do not rot. These structures are easy to manufacture, lightweight, can be transported and assembled.

Procedure:

• The mesh must be of the required length and with a margin of 20 cm for entry.
• Film or garden textiles must be the same size.
• You can fasten the mesh with wire, put textiles or film inside.
• To make the structure more stable, it is reinforced from the outside with bars. Sometimes they are dropped.
• The edges of the material that lies on the bottom are fixed from the outside with simple clerical clips.

To simplify the task, you can use huge garbage bags. You can use special bags that are sold in gardening stores. Fill according to the same general principle, starting with the branches.

concrete compost pit

This hole has a number of advantages:

• its walls will maintain the required temperature for a long time;
• she is not afraid of any environmental influences;
• she is not afraid of excessive moisture or the sun.

If you make such a pit with several departments, then the use will be much more convenient and practical. For example, in one compartment, compost from one season, in another from the next, and in the third - ready-made fertilizer.

Procedure:

• The pit should have proportions of 1.5m * 3.5m already in finished form. Depth 70cm will be the most comfortable.
• It is necessary to make formwork, leaving a distance of about 15 cm to the edges of the pit. You can use plywood or boards.
• The walls of the finished structure should be 40 cm above ground level.
• The iron mesh is installed inside and poured with concrete.
• To make concrete, cement, screenings and crushed stone are needed in a ratio of 1 * 3 * 3.
• You can ram it with a shovel or reinforcement so that there are no voids in the walls.
• The formwork is removed when the concrete is fully cured, approximately 14 days later.
• As a cover, you can use a special coating material or wood.

It is worth remembering that when using a concrete pit, the process does not go very quickly. To speed it up, you can purchase special tools and manually add earthworms.

Conclusion

There are no special tricks in the design of the compost pit. The materials that are used are in any garden or cottage.
The benefit of a compost pit is that household and household waste will be disposed of in it.
When the compost pit is arranged correctly, fertilizer is formed in it, which does not contain any harmful substances, it is environmentally friendly. Its use will increase productivity. Rational use and economic approach will help reduce material costs and improve the environmental situation.
To achieve the best result in the manufacture of a compost pit or box, you can use the tips from the article, read additionally with photos and videos of manufacturing.

Watch the video! How to make a compost pit with your own hands

Summer residents are well aware that organic waste from the sites should not be thrown away. They can become a healthy, environmentally friendly fertilizer. For their competent processing create the so-called compost. This fertilizer is obtained as a result of the decomposition of organic substances under the influence of various microorganisms. Compost can be added to any soil to improve its quality. For example, when using compost on clay soil, you can achieve the effect of loose soil, and sand, when mixed with this fertilizer, will retain water much better.

DIY compost pit

Incredibly, almost all structures used to create compost are called compost pits. However, in reality, this is not always a hole.

• With the help of a compost pit (or heap).
• With the help of a special container for compost.

The first method has already become a classic. It is popular because of the low financial costs and ease of organization of the process. To create such a pit, an approximately half-meter deepening is made in the ground, and the resulting volume is filled with waste of organic origin, from which it is supposed to create future fertilizer.

The top of the hole is covered with a black film. Often the edges of the polyethylene are attached to long sticks or cuttings that help hold the film in place. The presence of such cuttings also helps with the further exploitation of the contents of the pit. With their help, it is convenient to remove the film and return it to its place.

In cases where a compost heap is used, the latter is covered with a special wire mesh (a kind of frame is made). Water and oxygen perfectly penetrate through such a grid, enriching the fertilizer and promoting the development of microorganisms.

But this method also has disadvantages. It's pretty hard to mix. If the pile is large, then it will not be able to warm up well. All this can lead to an increase in the period of "ripening" of the fertilizer.

Closed compost bins vary in size, number of bins, color and material from which they are made. You can make such a container yourself, but you can also purchase it in a specialized store. As a rule, a distinctive feature of such boxes is a drum that allows you to turn the contents of the container, as well as a hose for adding water to the box. Another advantage can be called the security of containers from the penetration of unnecessary pests.

The most elementary of the existing containers is single-section. Substances are placed in such a container from above, and the finished compost is taken from below. To do this, a hole is made at the bottom of one of the walls of the container with a removable (opening) door. If a distance of about 40 cm is left between the container and the ground, then the compost will not need to be mixed.

The two-section box consists of two equal halves. In the first compartment, as a rule, the finished substrate is stored, and the “fresh” waste is placed in the second. These boxes have a hinged lid. The main condition is that it should fit snugly against the box, securely closing its contents.

Such boxes are most often made from boards, metal, slate, plastic and other materials. To place such a box in a pit under it, metal supports (or poles) are dug in. Thick metal rods are also suitable as supports, but it is forbidden to set up wooden poles, because. wood is easily rotten and the box will eventually simply fall. Metal parts must be treated with an anti-corrosion coating, and if there are any parts made of wood, the latter must be impregnated with a protective compound and painted twice.

Many summer residents make a box of three compartments. At the same time, mature compost is placed in the first compartment, the second is filled with medium readiness compost, and new organic substances are laid in the third.

A concrete box is one of the most durable structures. It is built once and for a long time. A formwork is built over a trench or pit with a depth of about 0.8 m. Then it is filled with concrete. Ultimately, the formwork is removed, the soil is removed from the container. Instead of a cover, it is recommended to use a shield made of wood or dark polyethylene, pressed against a metal mesh.

A plastic box is a finished construction, equipped with ventilation (holes), a lid and various sizes. They are relatively inexpensive and last a long time.

The ideal dimensions for a compost bin are one and a half by two meters, but they can vary due to the amount of organic matter that is planned to be processed in a two-year period (this amount of time takes the entire process of creating a fertilizer).

It is important to consider that the smaller the size of the box, the slower and worse the process of heating the substrate will go. Because of this, all the toxic substances arising from decay simply will not be destroyed. It has been established that the temperature inside the compost bin cannot fall below 60 degrees.

The location of the box can be chosen based on two criteria: remoteness and the use of the site used for other needs. In other words, the box is built in the farthest and most inconspicuous corner with infertile soil or in a very shaded place unsuitable for growing crops.
It is important when choosing a place to remember the following nuances. Rotting organic matter smells extremely bad. Their stench will interfere not only with the owner of the site, but also with the neighbors.

The pit must be easily accessible. You will need to use these fertilizers throughout the year. It is important to prevent situations where the water will stagnate. For this reason, it is best to choose the most even places for such structures.

Such a pit must be raised above the ground level in order to facilitate its mixing, heating and the process of adding water to the contents. It is not recommended to build a pit near the source from which drinking water is drawn in order to prevent the penetration of harmful substances produced as a result of decay into it.

Do not install the box in a bright sunny place. The rays of the sun can dry out the substrate and slow down the whole process. The box should be placed in a shady place. The source used for the intake of drinking water should be located as far as possible from the compost pit. The optimal distance is 25 meters or more. It is extremely dangerous to arrange compost under the crown of trees. Such a neighborhood can destroy a tree. Coniferous plants are especially sensitive to toxins released during decay. But birch will be more resistant to their effects.

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The soil directly under the pit must be carefully cleared, removing any vegetation, and then making a small depression (about 0.3 m.)

When laying compost, the green and brown layers of the substrate alternate. Wet layers are also interleaved with dry ones. In this case, the green layers should be three times less than the brown ones, and the dry layers should be five parts less than the wet ones.

It should be borne in mind that all large elements of raw materials should be crushed in advance.

Used leaving is usually divided into two types:

• The brown species includes: leaves, thin branches, sawdust, rags (from woolen fabrics or cotton), newspapers, cardboard or paper, plant roots, ash, grass, old rotten wood, etc. It is believed that all these wastes will emit when rotting carbon.
• The green species includes: fruits of plants from berries to vegetables, pomace from ground coffee, tea leaves, food leftovers (especially cereals or soups), egg shells, feces of herbivores. It is important to remember that if there is too much ordinary green grass, then the compost production process will slow down significantly. In this case, it is recommended to sprinkle the grass layers with soil.

The following substances can significantly increase the speed of fertilizer preparation: rotted waste products of horses, certain plants (for example, dandelions or mint), special substances (for example, Compostine), dry bird feces, ground bones, various fertilizers, etc.

Not all organic matter can be useful in compost production. So, the compost pit does not allow the use in it of: the results of the life of pets, some weeds (for example, loach or couch grass) infected with pests of plants (or parts thereof), plants after treatment with pesticides, non-decomposable garbage (inorganic), fats, eggs, milk and its derivatives and others.
All items and substances that cannot be placed in a compost bin are disposed of as household waste or placed in a cesspool.

correct exploitation compost pit

It is required to know not only how to fill the hole with the necessary organic matter, but also how to exploit it, how to speed up decay or improve the quality of fertilizer. For a more productive result, it is recommended to adhere to the following prescriptions:

1. The contents of the pit (container) need to be periodically moistened, but it is important not to overdo it with the addition of water. The substrate should remain moist, but no more. Don't keep it dry either. The decay process will stop.
2. Compost should be periodically pierced and stirred with a pitchfork. This will improve the penetration of oxygen, which will positively affect the process as a whole.
3. It is very important to cover the contents of the pit with black film. This will speed up the composting process.
4. The presence of earthworms in the compost has a positive effect on the process. They can even be artificially planted in a pit.
5. The compost needs to be mixed frequently.

As the contents of the pit rot, the temperature inside rises. In some cases, steam is produced as a result of this process. If it rises from the heap, then this demonstrates to the owner that the composting process is proceeding as expected.

In autumn, the compost pit requires special attention. The bottom layer is already ready for use by this time. It is recommended to remove it from the pit and use it to cover flower beds with perennials. The top layer can be removed and laid separately.

It is very convenient to use old boxes or pallets for sorting compost. It is necessary to sort the substrate. This will speed up compost production and make it more uniform.

Experienced summer residents advise covering compost bins and heaps not with a whole black film, but charmingly making holes in it. This allows you to maintain a stable temperature and humidity inside the pit, and also promotes air circulation.

Creating a compost pit is a rather laborious process, but it is worth it. With the help of such pits, a huge amount of organic waste can be disposed of, while obtaining an extremely valuable fertilizer, the quality of which will not be in doubt.

Before proceeding with the preparation of compost, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with, which are often allowed in the manufacture of this organic fertilizer.

The best organic fertilizer has always been considered rotted manure. But it is not always and not always easy to find it everywhere, so many summer residents prepare their own manure substitute - compost. Almost any organic waste is suitable for it, and after a while, almost free fertilizer is obtained.

How to make your own compost

Compost contains the same nutrients as manure and in most cases the two fertilizers are interchangeable. It is only important to properly prepare the compost.

What is compost

Compost is a natural fertilizer obtained from various wastes of plant and animal origin by their decomposition. It is formed during the biodegradation of organic matter under the influence of microorganisms. Composting requires the presence of air, so they try to place the waste not in a pit, but in some kind of structure on the surface of the soil. In addition to air, biodegradation of organics requires high humidity and the ability to maintain internal heat.

During the season, the heap is constantly growing: the lower layers may already be almost ready, and fresh raw materials are still being applied on top

Properly prepared compost is a highly effective fertilizer that does not contain helminths, weed seeds and pathogenic microflora. Composts have favorable acidity for most crops (pH 6.7–8.4), contain about 3% nitrogen (half of it is in the ammonium form), up to 3% phosphorus and up to 2% potassium.

The list of trace elements contained in the compost is wide: zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, etc.

Compost not only fertilizes the soil, but also improves its structure: it becomes loose and absorbent. Compost is widely used for mulching to conserve moisture and inhibit weed growth. Composting allows you to save money on the purchase of fertilizers, makes it possible to get rid of a large amount of garbage and waste.

How is compost prepared

You can start composting at any time, except for winter. As a rule, the first layers begin to form already at the beginning of summer, when weeds fall out, and by autumn the compost heap grows rapidly. For accelerated decomposition, it would be better if the process took place during the warm season. But life makes its own adjustments, the main amount of waste in the country occurs in the second half of summer and autumn.

Container for compost

If possible, a special box is prepared, but you can do without it by simply enclosing the compost heap with boards or slate sheets. For the construction of the box, you can use any boards, but not painted and not rotten. It can be of any size (not less than 1.5 x 1.5 m), but the height is convenient in the range of 1.0–1.2 m: with a higher pile, compost will be more difficult to care for.

The options for arranging a compost box are very diverse, it all depends on the owner's imagination and the availability of materials.

The box is built on a flat place or on a slight hill, so that the compost is not washed away by rainwater. During its construction, it is not necessary to adjust the boards: it is necessary to ensure sufficient access of oxygen. Often the front wall is made removable so that it is more convenient to add material and take ready-made compost. Many people put oilcloth or old linoleum on the bottom of the box, but this is not mandatory.

What can and cannot be composted

A variety of natural materials are put into the compost; the wider their list, the more trace elements the fertilizer will contain. The most common "participants":

You also need to know what does not belong in the compost heap. You should not put in it:

• large bones;
• meat and fish waste;
• perennial weeds with living roots;
• diseased, as well as pest-infected plants;
• waste containing toxic substances;
• products made of metal, rubber, plastic, glass, etc.

Fresh manure can only be added to the compost if it is expected to be prepared for at least a year.

Compost technology

As waste is generated, they are crushed and stacked in layers in a compost heap, periodically interbedded with layers of earth. The layer of earth is only 3–4 cm, it is poured when 15–25 cm of organic matter is accumulated. If the weather is dry, the pile must be watered to keep it constantly moist.

If the pile is small, it is worth shoveling it from time to time to increase air access. In winter, no one will do this at their summer cottage, but in the spring, with the beginning of the season, it is highly desirable to turn over the contents. If there is peat, it is periodically added to the pile. If possible, it is useful to water a pile of slurry.

The compost can be ready for use in 6-8 months. The finished fertilizer is a loose, homogeneous mass of brown color, without a strong odor: it should only smell a little like earth.

Video: how to prepare compost

Compost is an almost free organic fertilizer that every gardener can easily prepare on their site. It is only important to know what can be used to make compost and put in a little effort.

Compost is an indispensable component of fertile soil in your garden and the most affordable fertilizer, obtained literally from waste. Properly prepared compost will not only fill the need of plants for nutrients, but also improve the structure of the soil, its friability and the ability to absorb and retain moisture.

The “correct” compost is not just a rotten heap in the corner of the garden, where you can dump everything you need. In order for compost to be useful and safe, some rules must be followed.

Compost may include:

• cut grass, hay and straw;
• green parts of healthy plants and some weeds;
• branches, wood residues and sawdust;
• food residues of plant origin;
• herbivore manure and bird droppings;
• chalk, ash, coal, eggshell;
• composting accelerators.

You can not use the compost heap as a garbage pit by adding the following components to it:

• food residues of animal origin - they cause rotting and a persistent unpleasant odor;
• faeces of humans and carnivorous domestic animals - they may contain eggs of worms;
• rags, coated glossy paper, rubber, stones, bones - these components do not decompose during the composting process;
• chemicals and disinfectants;
• weeds with seeds with a long germination period, as well as creeping roots - in the process of composting, these plants do not lose their germination;
• diseased plants affected by pests and fungal diseases, such as late blight. They need to be burned.

Store the components in a compost bin. It can be made in the form of a pit or a fenced compartment, located in a secluded corner of the garden. According to the rules, the laid compost heap does not emit strong odors and does not have a harmful effect on the soil.

Compost device

The correct arrangement of the compost heap is one of the keys to quickly obtaining high-quality compost. It is not difficult to perform it, it is important to follow the recommendations.

Compost maturation

The process of fermentation and composting lasts from several months to two or three years, the maturation time of the compost depends on the size of the components and the mode of fermentation. It is important to achieve an increase in the temperature inside the pyramid to 55-60 degrees and above, while not only the processes of decomposition of the components with the help of bacteria are accelerated, but also weed seeds lose their germination, pests and insects die. For the correct mode, it is important to ensure a good supply of moisture and air to the composter. This is achieved through simple operations.

You can use compost when it acquires an almost homogeneous structure, becomes free-flowing and loose. Ripe compost smells pleasantly of damp earth and rotten leaves, it should not contain traces of fungus and mold. Ready compost is brought into the holes when planting bushes and trees or planting seedlings, they mulch the soil with it under perennial plants or add it to greenhouses and greenhouses. You can also scatter it over the beds before planting the seeds and slightly loosen the surface of the soil.

Good mature compost does not require organic or mineral fertilizers during planting and allows you to get a rich and environmentally friendly crop.

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Even an inexperienced gardener knows the benefits of compost, which is used to nourish the soil. It is able not only to fertilize the soil, but also to improve its friability and structure. Since the main components of compost are waste, nutrient fertilizer is obtained from almost nothing / In terms of costs, it is the most affordable. However, it is not enough just to dump plant residues in one heap. To obtain valuable material, compost in the country with your own hands must be done correctly.

What is a compost heap made of?

When forming a compost pit in the country with your own hands, you need to know that you can’t throw everything into it. The main products for composting are:

• weeds;
• slightly crushed roots, branches and bark of trees;
• leaves;
• straw, cut grass, hay;
• raw berries, fruits, vegetables and cleaning from them;
• coffee, cereals, tea;
• needles;
• wood ash;
• second year herbivore dung;
• unpainted wood waste;
• shredded paper bags, cardboard, napkins.

Do not add to the compost heap:

To make compost with your own hands correctly, you should add a brown mass with poor fiber and green, nitrogen-rich waste , at a ratio of 5:1. This will speed up the development of bacteria and the maturation of the compost. Waste will also quickly rot if it is crushed beforehand.

How to make a compost heap with your own hands? There is nothing difficult in this. You can understand that the balance is maintained and the compost is correct by its condition. If it's moist, steamy, warm, and smells green, it's in the right mix of ingredients. If the compost heap has no visible fumes, it needs more green matter. In the presence of an unpleasant odor, brown components are added.

A proper compost heap consists of alternating layers of brown and green filling, as well as coarser and finer fraction components. The finally formed compost with your own hands is covered from above with a five-centimeter layer of earth and a perforated film or old straw.

How to make compost in the country on your own?

First of all, for the compost pit, you should choose a suitable place. It should be hidden from prying eyes and protected from the scorching sun and winds. All leftovers and waste are placed in special compost bins, which are best made from a wooden frame.

Before laying organic matter digs compost pit 20 cm deep, the bottom of which is covered with a layer of peat or a film. This will retain moisture and nutrients.

Compost heap care

The quality of the compost and the period of its formation depends on the proper care of it:

1. Humidity is of great importance, so a dry heap is moistened. To do this, it is carefully watered from a watering can, but so that it is exactly wet, not wet. Too much humidity impairs the functioning of bacteria;
2. Every month the compost must be carefully turned. This will enrich the organic matter with oxygen, make it loose and contribute not to rotting, but to burning out the waste. In extreme cases, the pile can not be dug up, but pierced with a pitchfork;
3. In order for the compost to ripen faster, more nitrogen is added to it, which is contained in slurry and green parts of the plant.

Usually organic residues are completely overheat in a year and a half. The fact that the compost is ready can be recognized by smell and visually. You should get a dark brown crumbly mass with the smell of forest land.

How to make a compost bin with your own hands?

A composter in the country or in the garden can be made in the form of a 2 or 3 section box. It is recommended to use a version of the composter with three sections, each of which will be designed for its own purposes:

1. for laying waste;
2. for compost ripening;
3. for finished fertilizer.

compost bin can be fixed or mobile(on wheels). For quick ripening and obtaining high-quality humus, the height of the box should be at least 1 meter, and each of its sections should be about a meter and a half in size.

Before starting work, all wooden parts are treated with a special compound that will protect the structure from moisture and insects.

DIY compost bin making steps:

1. 8 wooden blocks are buried in the ground;
2. partitions are equipped, for which boards are attached to the bars at a certain distance from each other;
3. two compartments in the front are sheathed only to the middle. Doors will be installed on top. Only one board from below is nailed to the remaining compartment;
4. the end parts and the back wall are sheathed;
5. a large door is attached to the front wall of one compartment, and small doors to the other two;
6. the finished wooden structure is covered with paint twice;
7. latches and handles are attached to the drawer.

Once at the bottom of the compost bin drainage will be installed(dry tree branches, etc.), waste can be placed in it.

How to make a compost pit in the country?

A compost pit will not overshadow the appearance of the site, but the waste in it will rot for a long time. Since fertilizer needs oxygen to ripen, the compost pit needs to be properly equipped.

How to make a DIY compost pit with wood trim?

This option involves making a wooden box and placing it in a pit.

Production order:

After one half of the compost pit is full, the oxygenation material is moved to the other half.

Actively participate in the formation of humus earthworms. In order for them to get into the composter, the bottom and sides of the structure are not covered with anything.

Slate compost pit

A strong and reliable construction can be obtained if it is built from slate. It is made in several stages:

1. a site is selected and the dimensions of the pit are determined;
2. a small depression is dug, at the corners of which supports are dug in. You can use pipes or boards;
3. slate sheets are installed along the edges of the pit;
4. the space is divided into two or three parts with the help of slate leaves.

concrete compost pit

The walls of the structure can be concreted, as a result of which such a pit will last for decades. For its manufacture you will need:

In the manufacture of a composter for a summer residence or garden barrels can be used. These can be concrete rings or wooden products that are buried in the ground. The bottom of the structure is covered with drainage, and a cover with holes is installed on top to provide ventilation.

Compost pit according to Finnish technology

The main requirement for the Finnish design is the dimensions. The height and sides of the box should be one meter. If the structure is smaller, the contents in it will quickly dry out and turn into dust. In a large structure, organics will burn out from high temperatures.

Materials for manufacturing

It is better to build a compost pit from wood. Not a very good option would be slate. In the construction made from it, waste will turn into fertilizer for a long time.

A cheap and convenient pit will be made from wooden pallets. They can be found or purchased cheaply.

Prepared wooden elements are treated with an antiseptic that can protect them from the ground. After such processing, the structure will last for several years and no repairs will be needed.

To make the design look decent, you need to buy paint.

Making a compost pit:

In one meter-by-meter box, compost will be prepared, which is enough to fertilize the earth on a plot of 5-7 acres.

Compost pit - dry closet

A compost bin using Finnish technology can be purchased at the store. This is a dry closet that is able to turn waste into compost. It consists of two containers, each of which has a volume of 80 liters.

Having visited the toilet, you will need to fill the container with a special mixture of sawdust and peat, and then turn the handle. It is located on the body and is designed to evenly distribute the contents of the container.

With this composter, you can also dispose of food by placing them in a container for this and sprinkling with a dry mixture.

As soon as the first container is full, it moves away, and a second container is installed in its place. In the first container, the compost is ready for use. However, in such a dry closet it turns out to be too concentrated, so it should be diluted with earth, sand or peat.