I've been making my own compost in a bucket, and I'm feeling a bit unsure about whether it's ready to use. It looks and smells pretty good, but since I wasn't keeping track of the right ratios or temperatures during the process, I worry there might be issues. My compost is made only from garden materials—no food scraps. Is there a way to test if it's too acidic or nitrogen-heavy? What else should I be looking out for in terms of its composition?
3 Answers
You're usually in good shape if your compost looks and smells good! Microbes tend to balance everything out to around neutral (pH 7) as they break down organic matter. So if it seems fine, you’re probably good to go!
If you want to double-check, you can send a sample to a lab for detailed nutrient levels and pH. For home gardening, test kits are available too, though they’re not super precise. But for a small batch like a bucket, it might be all you need!
As long as your compost has aged a bit, it's likely close to neutral and not overloaded with nitrogen. Too much nitrogen usually washes away early on. Just ensure it's well-aerated and watch out for any potential seeds or diseases if it didn’t heat up properly. If it looks like coffee grounds with minimal raw material, it’s probably all set for your garden!