What is a good ratio of brown and green compost material?
What is a good ratio of brown and green materials?
There are several levels at which this question can be answered, but good places to begin are:
1) the "Sticky" on Browns and Greens at
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9089
2) Discussion on compost with helpful links (also read the posts in the thread for an understanding of how to approach learning about compost-making) at
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12488
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
1) the "Sticky" on Browns and Greens at
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9089
2) Discussion on compost with helpful links (also read the posts in the thread for an understanding of how to approach learning about compost-making) at
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12488
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
-
rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Whatever you have... 
In the summer my pile tends to be mostly green as I throw in all the weeds I pull, deadheaded flowers, trimmings etc. I try to make sure I have a little bit of browns around for a mixture, but the ratio is probably no more than 1:4 brown:green. In winter, my pile is mostly fall leaves (brown) and kitchen scraps (green & brown because I throw in the coffee filters, paper towels etc), so probably at least 3:2 brown:green.
But of course the spring pile is put on top of the remains of the winter pile after I turn it to use the finished compost, so it all balances it out in the long run I guess... all of it works. It isn't rocket science.
In the summer my pile tends to be mostly green as I throw in all the weeds I pull, deadheaded flowers, trimmings etc. I try to make sure I have a little bit of browns around for a mixture, but the ratio is probably no more than 1:4 brown:green. In winter, my pile is mostly fall leaves (brown) and kitchen scraps (green & brown because I throw in the coffee filters, paper towels etc), so probably at least 3:2 brown:green. But of course the spring pile is put on top of the remains of the winter pile after I turn it to use the finished compost, so it all balances it out in the long run I guess... all of it works. It isn't rocket science.