1 part greens to 3 parts browns
University extension services recommend approximately 1 part greens to 2-4 parts browns by volume. Greens (nitrogen-rich): food scraps, grass clippings, fresh leaves. Browns (carbon-rich): dried leaves, straw, cardboard, wood chips.
Too many greens create a smelly, anaerobic pile. Too many browns decompose very slowly. The right balance produces heat, which accelerates decomposition and kills weed seeds.
Turn, water, monitor
Turn the pile every 1 to 2 weeks to add oxygen, which speeds decomposition. The pile should be moist like a wrung-out sponge, not soaking wet and not dry. A hot pile (130 to 150 degrees F in the center) is working correctly.
Keep these out
Do not compost meat, dairy, oils, diseased plants, pet waste, or treated wood. These attract pests, introduce pathogens, or add chemicals to the finished compost.
- Ratio: 1 part greens to 2-4 parts browns by volume
- Turn every 1-2 weeks for oxygen
- Moisture: like a wrung-out sponge
- Hot center (130-150°F) means it is working
- No meat, dairy, oils, pet waste, or diseased plants
- UGA Extension — Composting guidance from university cooperative extension.