How to Compost for Beginners
Composting goes wrong in two ways: too wet (smells) or too dry (nothing happens). Both are fixed with the same idea — the ratio of greens to browns.
The ratio
Roughly 2–3 parts browns to 1 part greens by volume.
| Greens (nitrogen, wet) | Browns (carbon, dry) |
|---|---|
| Kitchen scraps, fruit and veg peelings | Dry leaves |
| Grass clippings | Cardboard, torn up |
| Coffee grounds, tea leaves | Shredded paper, newspaper |
| Fresh plant trimmings | Straw, hay |
| Manure from herbivores | Wood chips (small amounts), sawdust |
If it smells, add browns. That single rule fixes almost every problem.
Never compost these
- Meat, fish, dairy — attracts rats and smells badly
- Cooked food and oils — same problem
- Dog or cat waste — can carry pathogens that survive composting
- Diseased plants — a home pile rarely gets hot enough to kill them
- Perennial weed roots — couch grass, bindweed; they survive and spread
- Glossy printed card — plastic coatings do not break down
How long it takes
| Method | Time | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Cold pile (just add and wait) | 6–12 months | Minimal |
| Turned pile | 2–4 months | Turn weekly |
| Hot composting (1 m³, turned often) | 4–8 weeks | High |
| Worm bin (vermicompost) | 2–4 months | Low, indoor-friendly |
Fixing common problems
It smells like rot
Too wet and anaerobic. Add browns, turn it, and stop adding kitchen scraps for a week.
Nothing is happening
Too dry, or the pieces are too big. Water it until it feels like a wrung-out sponge, and chop things smaller.
Fruit flies
Bury kitchen scraps in the middle of the pile instead of dumping them on top.
Rats
Almost always cooked food, meat or dairy. Remove those and use a closed bin.
Is it ready?
Finished compost is dark, crumbly and smells like forest soil. You should not be able to recognise what went in. If you can still see eggshells and banana skins, it needs longer.
Common questions
How do you compost without smell?
Keep the greens-to-browns ratio at about 1:2 or 1:3, turn it occasionally, and never add meat, dairy or cooked food.
Can you compost in a small space?
Yes. A worm bin fits under a sink and handles kitchen scraps with no smell if managed properly.
Do you need to turn compost?
Not strictly - a cold pile works, just slower. Turning adds oxygen and speeds it up considerably.
Can you put citrus and onion in compost?
Yes, in moderation. They break down fine in a normal pile; the old advice against them mainly applies to worm bins.
Soil mix ratios and bed layouts: Raised Bed Soil Calculator.