Simple Yet Effective In-Ground Composting

In-Ground Composting For A Natural Decomposition Method

In-ground composting is a passive, cold composting approach to amending the soil using your yard debris and kitchen trash. You do not need to use a compost pile or tumbler. Instead, you need to have a natural decomposition process. You can start by digging a hole or trench into the ground and placing a mixture of nitrogen and carbon-rich organic material inside. The fix is then covered with soil and left to decompose as nature dictates.

One of the simple forms of in-ground composting is by creating a compost hole. Indeed it is the easiest and least expensive way home gardeners can amend the soil regularly. Also, you can make compost holes year-round as long as the ground is not frozen. Additionally, it does not require any bins, pitchforks, piles, or worms. 

All you need for in-ground composting:

• a digging tool 
• a patch of earth and kitchen waste such as; the banana peels, coffee grounds, potato peels, tea bags
• and other pieces of easily compostable material you produce daily. 

Steps To Achieve In-Ground Compost

1. Collecting Your Kitchen Waste

After working in the kitchen, you have some particles of your fruits, veggies, and other biodegradable materials in your bin. You can indeed use any compost bin. It is easy to scrub out, and the lids seal in odors.

An alternative way is to throw kitchen waste into a big plastic margarine tub or another re-sealable container. And or, hang a plastic bag on a kitchen cabinet knob and toss scraps in it as you cook.

2. Digging a Hole

After collecting your kitchen waste, you can now dig a hole wherever you like to enhance the quality of your soil. You can place it in your vegetable garden-raised beds, flowerbeds, or somewhere you can plant seedlings and sow seeds. Start digging down from 8″ to 18″. Hence, it is much better if the soft ground since you do not even need a shovel. You can use a spade or your hands. Moreover, for excellent results, the hole should be at least 8″ deep so that there is a barrier between your pests and your kitchen scraps. Make sure not to dig too far. If you go deeper than 18″, your compost could leach into the water table. 

3. Dump In Your Kitchen Waste

You can dump 1 to 2 quarts of your composting material into it the compost hole. You can use your spade and shovel for the digging. The vegetable and fruit scraps you collected break down by bacteria that work aerobically. Hence, the bacteria require oxygen to produce decomposition.

4. Cover It Up

To speed things up, chop up the waste and add nitrogen-rich elements such as; grass clippings, manure, pet, human hair, and leaves to the hole. After covering it, you can immediately plant seeds on top of your compost hole. Your kitchen waste takes 1 to 6 months to rot.

The length of time required always depends upon several factors:

• The temperature.
• Moisture levels in the soil.
• The kind of scraps you bury.
• The soil type.

The Benefits of In-Ground Composting

• Saves money
• Handles larger quantities
• Quick and simple
• Improves soil structure

When To Have In-Ground Composting?

1. When you have a small yard.

Hole composting is perfect for too small fields to put up a compost bin, compost pile, or tumbler. It would only take up about one foot below the ground.

2. If you live a busy lifestyle.

Compost holes only require four steps and, at the same time, would only take a few minutes to dig if the ground is soft.

3. When you have raised beds.

It is such an easy and convenient way for building the soil in your raised beds. Since raised bed soil is ordinarily soft, so the holes are easy to dig.

4. When you want to save money

Also, it is indeed a cost-free option for boxes and compost bins. Hence, the materials needed are minimal. All you need to have are a shovel, spade, and kitchen scraps. And no activators are required to speed up decomposition.

In-Ground Composting Offers An Incredible Way To Deal With Your Organic Waste.

To sum it up, there can be some challenges that you will encounter with this form of composting. Most likely with inner-city homes or even extensive gardens that are full. Yet, people have been burying organic waste for centuries for a reason. It is a remarkably efficient method of composting. Indeed, when waste breaks down under the soil, all nutrients and carbon are returned to the ground, and no greenhouse gasses are released. 

Furthermore, some forms of composting require lengthy and complicated processes involving the right mix of brown and green waste, aerating, and moisture. At the same time, above-ground composting can take many months until the compost is ready to add to the garden. However, this method increases the soil’s ability to retain water and provides vital nutrients.

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