If you’re looking to improve your garden soil naturally, composting is a simple way to boost its health. It’s amazing how the right mix of compost materials can change the way your soil holds nutrients and supports plants.
By adding diverse compost items, you can transform your soil’s texture, fertility, and ability to retain moisture. Here are 13 things I started composting that made a noticeable difference in my garden’s growth and soil quality.
Banana peels
You might toss banana peels, but they’re actually great for compost. They add nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium that help your soil stay healthy.
Chop them up before tossing them into your compost pile to speed up breakdown. Adding banana peels to your compost makes it richer and more beneficial for your plants.
Be careful with banana peel tea though—it needs the right ratio or it won’t work well for watering. For more details, check out how banana peels boost compost nutrients.
Coffee grounds
You can add coffee grounds to your compost or sprinkle them thinly on your soil. They add organic matter, which helps with drainage and soil aeration.
Be careful not to use too many at once, as too much can make your soil dense or overly wet. Fresh grounds might slightly lower soil pH, but composted grounds have a minimal effect. Using coffee grounds right improves your soil without causing harm.
Eggshells
You might think eggshells break down quickly, but they actually take a long time to decompose. They’re mostly calcium carbonate, which is pretty slow to break down unless your soil or compost is acidic.
Still, adding crushed eggshells to your compost enriches it with calcium and can help balance pH over time. Using eggshells in your garden supports healthy soil without extra cost or waste. Learn more about their breakdown in compost here.
Grass clippings
You can compost grass clippings quickly since they break down fast. Just keep them moist and turn the pile regularly to avoid bad smells. Grass clippings add a lot of nitrogen, so you’ll want to balance them with carbon-rich materials like dry leaves or cardboard.
If you turn your pile a couple of times a day, the clippings can disappear in about a week. This helps you get rich compost for your soil faster.
Dry leaves
Dry leaves are a great compost ingredient, but they can take time to break down. To speed things up, tear or shred them before adding.
They tend to clump and restrict airflow, so make sure you turn your pile often. This helps oxygen reach the leaves and prevents your compost from getting too dry.
If your compost feels dry, add some water or fresh green material to balance it out. You’ll get richer soil faster by managing moisture and aeration well. For more tips, see how to handle leaves in compost.
Vegetable scraps
You can toss all your vegetable peels, stems, and bits right into your compost. They break down quickly and add valuable nutrients to your soil.
Leftover veggie scraps help improve soil texture and boost microbial activity. Just make sure to chop larger pieces for faster decomposition.
If you’re burying scraps directly in your garden, cover them with soil to avoid pests. This easy step turns your waste into garden gold.
Fruit waste
You’d be surprised how much fruit scraps can improve your compost. Peels, cores, and blemished fruit break down quickly, adding valuable nutrients to your soil.
Just keep an eye on the pile so it doesn’t attract pests or smell. Proper balance and airflow help with that.
If you want tips on managing fruit and veggie scraps, check out this guide on composting large amounts of fruit and vegetables.
Wood chips
Adding wood chips to your soil helps retain moisture and reduce erosion. They break down slowly, feeding soil life over time without overwhelming your garden.
You’ll also notice fewer weeds since wood chips cover and protect the soil from direct sunlight. Plus, they create a habitat for helpful insects and fungi that improve soil health.
Tea bags
You can toss used tea bags right into your compost. Just make sure to tear them open if they’re plastic-lined, so the leaves break down faster.
Tea leaves add nutrients and help improve soil moisture. Over time, they support beneficial bacteria in your garden.
If you want to avoid any plastic, look for biodegradable tea bags or empty the leaves before composting.
Paper towels (unbleached)
You can compost unbleached paper towels as long as they’re not greasy or chemically treated. They break down pretty quickly and add good carbon material to your compost.
Just avoid using towels with heavy cleaning products or oils. If the paper towels look simple and natural, toss them in your pile—they’ll help improve your soil once decomposed. For more, check out this guide on composting paper towels from Reel Paper.
Corn stalks
You can compost corn stalks, but they need a bit of prep first. Let them dry out so they lose their green color before adding them to your pile.
Cutting or shredding the stalks helps speed up breakdown by increasing surface area for microbes. You might want to mix them with nitrogen-rich materials like coffee grounds or alfalfa meal for balance.
This combo improves your compost and eventually helps boost your soil’s structure and nutrients. See more about using corn stalks in your garden here.
Shredded newspaper
You can toss shredded newspaper into your compost without worry. It adds valuable carbon, balancing out green materials like kitchen scraps.
Make sure to avoid glossy or colored pages, as those might contain chemicals. Plain black-and-white newsprint breaks down well and helps improve soil texture.
Mix it with moist ingredients to prevent it from matting and slowing decomposition. Using shredded newspaper is an easy way to recycle and boost your compost’s quality.