
Ashleigh Smith

As spring is in full swing it is time to consider how you are going to care for your garden throughout the summer and fall. Once you have your garden planted you are tasked with keeping it happy, healthy, and alive through the rest of the season.
To help keep your plants happy we recommend applying compost throughout the year. This will help return organic matter to your soils. Organic matter is that nutrient-rich, dark soil component responsible for supporting healthy plants.
If you live in or have been to areas like Eastern Washington or Oregon you will notice the upper soil layer is naturally dark and moist, while still allowing water to drain. This is due to the high organic matter content. Unfortunately, the whole world doesn’t get the blessing of having soil like this.
To improve your soil you can use the composting process to help put essential nutrients back in the soil for future growth. For some basic information on how to get started check out our previous post called, “What is Compost?”.
Here I am going to give you a list of what you can and can’t include in your compost piles.
What can you compost?
- Organic Materials
- Grass clippings
- Tree leaves and twigs
- Vegetable food scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Teabags
- Black and white newspaper
- Print paper
- Disease-free yard waste
- Cardboard
- Vegetarian animal manure
- Wood shavings or sawdust
- Ash from natural wood
- House plants
- Nutshells
Do not compost these materials:
- Non-vegetarian manure (Dog, Cat, etc.)
- Color newspaper
- Noxious weeds - Can spread weeds from even a little bit of plant material. It is best to just discard or burn weed material
- Diseased yard waste - Burn or discard
- Food scraps with animal products - You may experience medium to large pests trying to retrieve discarded scraps from your compost bin, even if it is locked
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs - Black walnut trees contain a natural chemical that is harmful to other plants. This is why you hardly see anything growing within their drip lines
- Yard waste treated with synthetic pesticides
About the Author

I'm Ashleigh Smith, a native to Northern Utah. I first gained a love of gardening with my grandmother as I helped her each summer. I decided to make a career of it and have recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. My studies have focused on plant production while I also have experience in Nursery & Garden Center Operations.
Become a True Leaf Market Brand Ambassador! You’ll enjoy awesome perks, free products and exclusive swag & offers! Help us create a gardening revolution and help others experience the joy of growing!
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
2 comments
Cathy Menne
Thanks for the informative list. However I am wondering about vegetable food scraps containing seeds. Will the seeds (for example sweet pepper or tomato seeds) decompose or will they remain viable during composting? Thanks again.
True Leaf Market
Vegetable scraps with seeds can sprout in compost piles if it is not maintained at the proper temperature range. Compost piles should be kept at 130-170 degrees F (54-76 C) otherwise the seeds may remain viable. To prevent sprouting you can simply remove the seed contents before adding your vegetable scraps to your compost bin.
Further Reading
Christmas Wheatgrass Tradition
Published December 5, 2022 There are many traditions associated with Christmas. Hanging stockings, singing carols, giving gifts, etc. Did you know it is also a traditional custom to grow wheatgrass for your Christmas table? In Croatia, you will commonl...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-12-045 min read6Discovering the Festival of Lights: Hanukkah's History and Traditions
Written By Chelsea Hafer Often referred to as the Festival of Lights, hanukkah is a radiant celebration that illuminates the winter season with hope, unity, and tradition. Can you feel the warm glow of candlelight, the sizzle of potato latkes, and the ...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-295 min read0Stay Healthy - Foods to Eat This Winter
Written By Lara Wadsworth Staying healthy in the winter is always on the top list for health-conscious individuals. With flu season, less sunlight, cold temperatures, and back-to-school time, the winter season is often a hash of sickness after sickness...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-285 min read0Rediscovering Kamut: A Nutrient-Rich Journey
Written By Chelsea Hafer In the world of grains, Kamut stands as a venerable ancestor, a time-honored variety that has gracefully made its way back into the spotlight. The name Kamut, derived from the ancient Egyptian word for "wheat," paints a vivid p...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-267 min read0