Composting in your Central Florida Yard

Composting is an easy and effective way to recycle in your yard. Both kitchen scraps and yard debris can be turned into compost, so you can reduce waste and create a beneficial soil amendment. Most households have everything they need to get started. Whether you have a small urban yard, a large suburban lot, or live in a deed-restricted community, there is a method of composting that will work for you. Basic knowledge of how the process works will ensure your success in creating usable compost.

Your compost pile requires five basic elements:

1. MOISTURE: Add water with a hose or bucket to your pile—a nearby rain barrel also works. The goal is 45-65% water. Use the “squeeze test” by squeezing a handful of compost in your hand. Moisture should coat your hand but not drip.

2. OXYGEN: Oxygen is added to your compost when you mix the pile. The more you mix and aerate, the more quickly the waste will break down into usable compost. Without adequate oxygen, your pile might have an odor.

3. TEMPERATURE: The temperature of your pile is important if you are using a “fast” composting method. It’s not so important if you are not concerned about making compost quickly.

4. PARTICLE SIZE: Ideally less than two inches so that the material can break down quickly. Cut up thick, tough leaves and fruits.

5. MIX OF GREEN AND BROWN MATERIALS: Brown materials are usually bulky and dry, and the green materials add the fuel (along with microbes) to break down the brown material. Green materials are high in nitrogen, while brown materials are high in carbon.

METHODS OF COMPOSTING

There are several composting methods to choose from, including cold composting, sheet composting, trench composting, fast (or hot) composting, and vermicomposting. Each approach offers benefits depending on your time, materials, and composting goals.

Cold composting is one of the simplest methods. It involves layering “browns,” such as leaves and soil, with “greens,” like kitchen scraps, in a bin or pile. Materials are occasionally mixed and watered as needed. This low-effort option works well if you are not in a hurry to produce finished compost. However, it’s important to avoid adding weeds or diseased plant material.

Sheet composting is essentially composting in place. Yard debris such as leaves, grass clippings, and pruning waste is spread directly over landscape beds and used as mulch. As these materials break down, they enrich the soil with organic matter. If you’ve ever used fallen leaves as mulch, you’ve already practiced sheet composting.

Trench composting is a great method if you have kitchen scraps but limited yard waste. This method involves digging a hole or trench and burying food scraps beneath 4–6 inches of soil. It can be done around the base of established plants or within mulched beds, where the materials decompose and improve soil health over time.

Fast composting requires more active management but produces compost more quickly. In this method, the compost pile heats up (often over 100°) before cooling down as materials break down. The pile shrinks as it decomposes, allowing for additional material to be added. Proper moisture, frequent turning for aeration, and a balanced mix of browns and greens are essential. This is the only method that can safely incorporate weeds and diseased plant material.

Finally, vermicomposting uses worms to break down food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. While commercial worm bins are available, they can also be made at home very easily. The worms rapidly process the material, producing castings that are highly beneficial for plants. This method is best suited for kitchen scraps and does not typically include yard waste. It works well in a small space or on a patio or balcony.

Composting is an easy, rewarding practice that turns everyday yard and kitchen waste into a valuable resource for your landscape. In your Central Florida yard, finished compost can be used to enrich vegetable and herb gardens and improve the soil in ornamental landscape beds. It can be mixed into soil to boost organic matter, used as a topdressing for lawns, or applied as mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. By composting, you not only reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill but also create a FloridaFriendly and cost-effective way to support the plants in your yard.

If you have any questions about composting, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863- 519-1041 or visit us online at: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are not in Polk County, Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic. You can find the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast wherever you listen or find out more on our Substack: substack.com/@yourcentralfloridayard. Check out episode 34 to learn more about starting a compost pile.

Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ufl.edu. An Equal Opportunity Institution.