Making your own compost is one of the best ways to recycle green waste, save money, and boost plant growth – and there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of using rich, crumbly compost you’ve created yourself.
Learning how to make compost at home is easier than you might think. Whether you’re looking to reduce household waste, improve your garden soil, or create your own nutrient rich compost, this beginners guide will walk you through everything you need to know about home composting.
Home composting can be done in any garden or allotment and it’s simpler than you might think. Whether you’re composting food waste, experimenting with hot composting for faster results, or even trying worm composting, all you need are a few key steps to get started.
With the right mix of materials and a little patience, you’ll soon be producing nutrient-packed compost that your plants will love.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to start a compost bin and turn your waste into garden gold.
Why should you make your own compost?
Making compost isn’t just good for your garden, it is great for the environment too. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill while creating a natural soil improver that is packed full of nutrients. Homemade compost helps improve soil structure, retain moisture, encourages beneficial worms and microorganisms, and can even reduce the need for fertilisers.
How to set up your compost area
The first step in how to start a compost bin is choosing the right location. Select a flat, well-drained spot, ideally on bare soil, so that worms and beneficial microbes can easily move in and help with decomposition. Make sure it’s somewhere that’s accessible all year round, so you can add materials and collect your finished compost without any hassle.
Next, decide what type of compost system you want. A DIY pallet compost bin or timber composter is a great low-cost option and can be built to any size, but it won’t retain heat as well as enclosed designs. If you’re looking for something that builds up heat quickly and helps speed up composting, a plastic “Dalek-style” bin might be a better choice, as it traps warmth and retains moisture, helping materials break down faster.
If you’re just getting started, a traditional compost bin is the easiest option as it keeps your compost tidy, retains heat and moisture, and helps create the ideal conditions for decomposition.
What you can and can’t put in a compost bin
If you’re unsure what to add when composting food waste or garden trimmings, think in terms of two main categories: green waste and brown waste, ideally in a ratio of approximately 2 parts brown waste and 1 part green waste.
Green waste
Nitrogen-rich materials like fruit and vegetable peelings, grass clippings, tea leaves, and spent coffee grounds. These help feed the microbes that break down your compost.
Green waste that you can compost include:
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Grass clippings
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Fruit & veg
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Tea bags
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Coffee grounds
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Garden waste
Brown waste
Carbon-rich materials such as shredded cardboard, chopped woody branches, autumn leaves, and shredded paper help maintain structure and airflow.
Brown waste materials that you can compost include:
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Cardboard (ideally ink free)
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Paper
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Eggshells
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Straw & hay
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Dry autumn leaves
What should never go in a compost bin?
Avoid adding the following as the can attract pests, create unpleasant smells or slow down the composting process:
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Meat
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Fish
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Dairy products
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Cooked food
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Pet waste
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Diseased plants
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Glossy or plastic coated paper
Maintaining the right balance keeps your compost moist but not soggy and ensures good aeration — two essential factors for healthy decomposition. Adding a mix of fresh garden clippings and kitchen scraps alongside dry materials will create nutrient-rich compost that’s ready to improve your soil.
How to keep your compost healthy
One of the best ways to improve home composting is to turn your pile regularly. This introduces oxygen into the heap, which is essential for the composting process and helps materials break down faster. Aim to turn your compost every few weeks using a garden fork or compost aerator.
If your compost isn’t breaking down as expected, it’s usually because the ratio of green to brown waste is off.
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If it’s smelly or too wet: Add more brown waste like shredded cardboard, woody clippings, or paper.
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If it’s too dry: Add more green waste like fruit and veg peelings, fresh grass clippings, or coffee grounds.
Keeping the right balance will ensure your compost stays active and healthy.
Common compost problems
Why isn’t my compost breaking down?
This is one of the most common composting problems. Your compost may be too dry, too wet, lacking nitrogen-rich green materials, or simply not getting enough oxygen. Try adding moe greens, turning the pile more regularly, or adding a compost accelerator to kick-start the process.
Why does my compost smell?
A healthy compost heap should smell earthy. Bad smells usually mean there is too much green waste or not enough airflow. Mix in more brown materials such as cardboard or dry leaves and turn the pile to introduce more oxygen.
Can you speed up the composting process?
While it can take several months, or even a year or more, to create high-quality compost, there are a few ways to speed up composting naturally:
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Compost accelerators: These contain nitrogen and beneficial microbes to help organic materials break down more quickly.
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Hot composting: Maintain a higher internal temperature in your compost bin or heap by adding plenty of greens, keeping it moist, and insulating it. This can produce usable compost in as little as 6–8 weeks.
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Worm composting: Add composting worms to actively break down composting food waste and garden scraps. They'll produce 'worm castings' which are highly concentrated, nutrient-rich soil improver.
Cutting larger branches and cardboard into smaller pieces before adding them to your compost can also help materials decompose more quickly.
When is compost ready to use?
You’ll know your compost is ready when it’s dark, crumbly, and has an earthy smell. Sieve it to remove any larger pieces and return those to your bin for further decomposition. Finished compost should be fine-textured and free from identifiable scraps.
Depending on the method you use and the conditions, homemade compost usually takes between 6 weeks and 12 months to mature.
How to use home made compost in the garden
Beautiful home made compost is very beneficial to the garden and what better feeling is there than using what you've created? Here are some ways you can use your compost:
Soil improver
Dig compost into your soil before planting to improve structure, boost fertility, and enhance drainage.
Mulch
Spread compost on top of soil to lock in moisture, suppress weeds and regulate soil temperature.
Potting mix
Blend compost with topsoil, sand, or vermiculite to create a rich potting mix for container plants.
Vegetable gardens
Work compost into your vegetable beds before sowing or planting to give crops a nutrient boost and improve soil health for the whole growing season.
Add around fruit trees and shrubs
Spread a layer of compost around the base of established trees and shrubs to improve soil quality, retain moisture and encourage healthy root growth.
Composting FAQs
How do you stop pests problems around your compost bin?
To avoid pests, never add meat, dairy, cooked food, or oily scraps to your compost bin, as these attract rodents and flies. Keep your bin well-sealed, cover fresh composting food waste with a layer of brown waste, and turn the pile regularly to discourage nesting. If rodents are an issue in your area, consider using a rodent-proof bin or lining the base with fine mesh.
Is it better to put a compost bin in the sun or shade?
A compost bin will work in both sun and shade, but for faster results a sunny spot is best as it helps raise the internal temperature. In warmer climates or during summer, partial shade can help prevent the pile from drying out too quickly.
How long does homemade compost take?
Most compost is ready within 6 to 12 months, although hot composting methods can produce finished compost in as little as 8 to 8 weeks if conditions are ideal.
Can you compost eggshells?
Yes. eggshells are an excellent addition to your compost bin. Crush them before adding them to help them break down more quickly.
Can you compost tea bags?
Many tea bags can be composted, but always check that they are plastic free first, as some tea bags contain synthetic fibres that won't decompose.
Once you’ve started composting, you’ll soon discover how rewarding it can be. Not only will you reduce waste, but you will also create a nutrient rich compost that helps your flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs thrive. Happy Composting!