Plus, a few surprising things you actually can add.
Composting is a simple way to turn your kitchen and yard waste into something useful for your garden.
Butnot all of these materialsare equally good to compost.
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For example, some food wastes will create an odor that may attract pests.
And certain yard waste can slow down or halt your composts decomposition process, which can be frustrating.
So never put meat, fish, or bones in your compost pile.
Credit: William N. Hopkins
Even if you have aclosed compost bin, the scent may draw picnicking pests.
Processed foods that contain a lot of dairy or fat should also be left out.
Residue from herbicides may affect plants once the compost is added.
The same applies to wood thats been pressure treated, painted, stained, or varnished.
Theres no sense in sowing next yearsweed cropwhile spreading your finished compost.
Second, charcoal briquettes are often infused with chemicals that can harm plants.
Dog or Cat Waste
Dog and cat poopnevershould go in yourcompost pile.
Roundworms are the most common issue with dog poop.
Surprising Things YouCanCompost
Now that you know the donts, here are some dos.
However, add the following items only if theyre free of the aforementioned no-nos.
