The Best Ways to Compost

Find the Right Spot

• One of the keys to successful composting is choosing the right location. For composting, you need to have an outdoor space available to you, whether that's the corner of a townhouse patio, or the back portion of a backyard. Where you choose to place your compost pile largely depends on the type of home you live in and how much space you have. Choose a spot that is fairly open, away from trees, roots, wood decks and fences. The ideal spot will be away from your home as compost can attract insects, and it should be slightly elevated land to allow for drainage. The pile should measure at least 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide by 3 feet across.

Create Your Compost Area

• Once you determine where your compost pile is going to go, you need to decide what it's going to go in -- either an open or closed area for your compost. Closed compost piles look cleaner and more attractive, and keep bugs out since they are inside of containers. Open compost piles are a little more convenient as you can simply throw your compost into them. They also collect rainwater. Closed containers are ideal for those who live in city or suburban residences while open piles may be more beneficial to those with more space and land to work with.

Provide the Basic Ingredients

• Knowing what to compost is essential to composting well. You can compost everything from unused garden vegetables, leftover kitchen scraps such as fruits, vegetables and coffee grounds, weeds, grass, fresh manure, straw, leaves and dead plants.

Use Your Compost

• After all the work you put into creating a successful compost pile, you need to put your compost to good use. Spread your compost onto your lawn to make it healthier and richer. Add compost to your garden for rich, nutrient dense soil. Help your plants grow by adding your compost to soil in your potted plants.