This Ancient and Highly Efficient Composting Method Will Change How You Garden

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

Years ago when we installed the compost bin, we made the mistake of placing it in full sunlight. Not only is this less than ideal for composting, it also took away space that could have been used to grow plants that need full sun. The bin is too old and rickety to move. So this year, I decided to make the most of it by planting squash around the bin, specifically angled luffa. It grew exceptionally well in that location. Don't want to move your compost around? Move your plants to your compost.

[@nelliesfarm8473]

Didn't know ! Mine is in full sun too

[@SisterShirley]

Isn't the compist bin supposed to be in the sun?

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

@@SisterShirley It depends, but most of the time the direct sun will dry it out, especially in the heat of summer. Placing it in full sun also occupies space that could be used to grow full sun plants.

[@kaptynssirensong2357]

This is a great tip. I will do this this year. Thanks!

[@Mark723]

Luke is a very knowledgeable and very generous gardener.

[@joehisel5966]

Yes he is, but he's making a big mistake putting plant matter infected with powdery mildew back into the ground. I believe next year he'll be doing a video on mildew outbreak

[@mikez1455]

fungi & bacteria are worm's food. worm will take care of them from coming back.

[@helgabruin2261]

​@@joehisel5966 I was thinking that. I compost everything, but powdery mildew leaves go to the curb garden waste.

[@DragonflyArtz1]

I would like to add to this informative post- It is Fall. I used chopped up Apples that have fallen from my mature Apple tree. Why did I chop them up? to spread them further and feed the worms. AND did the same with my Halloween Pumpkins (No Seeds). Only because I already had plenty for the pies. I had great results in my following growing season. In fact you could see a very visual difference in the rich living composted soil vrs the dry almost lifeless Garden Dirt (in spots). I find it kind of funny how we (as Gardeners) throw away branches and sticks and then go out and buy some for supports in the Garden. Kind of the same thing with composting.

[@sharonabner3156]

I have several raised beds, 27 inches tall. In center of each 4x8 bed I have a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled on bottom and sides. The bucket is buried up to the rim. I put kitchen scrapes with worms lightly cover with soil and do this all through the growing year. Come spring planting time I use the compost in the beds and start over again the next growing season. Been doing it for years.

[@agood1]

Love this idea

[@Golden_SnowFlake]

this works surprisingly well. I have an 8x8' raised bed, and I threw all the left over pumpkin vines, extra pumpkins, melons, turnips, radishes etc into it and chopped it up last year for winter, and it has been insanely vibrant growth this year. Never let it go to waste.

[@gourddrawing]

As a 70 yr. old gardener this is a game changer for me. Thankfully I can do a lot of gardening chores but working a compost pile can really irritate my back. Thanks, Luke, for sharing this!

[@robertsanders339]

Same here lol fun getting oldn

[@yeevita]

Yep, I try to keep as closed a loop as possible. Everything from the garden that we do not eat goes back to the garden. I bury things around plants, under plants in preparation for planting, and as mulch for plants during the season. I also do mounds, i.e. covered containers with holes in the bottom that sits slightly in the ground, with kitchen scraps and garden cuttings inside. Since it is covered, I water it and the worms find it. A closed loop is lovely. The earth is a closed loop.

[@joannmicik1924]

My family has been doing this for DECADES. It's a very efficient way to deal with messy kitchen scraps too. A couple of caveats: don't bury meat scraps because scavengers like skunks may dig them up. Don't bury thick wads of anything like fallen leaves or paper. It won't decompose fast enough over winter and forms a thick barrier just below the soil. I purposely trench in a lot of strawy manure where I know I'll plant my tomatoes next spring. The decomp gives off a little heat to get the young plants going fast and the fully composted stuff feeds them all summer long.

[@lazygardens]

My neighbor when I was a child would have the trench between her rows of vegetables, and the next year she would shift the veggies onto the top of the trench - back and forth so the veggies were always on top of last year's trench compost.

[@JimiSparx-yw3gb]

Run those fall greens over with your lawn mower a couple of times. Much smaller pieces, much less work than shovel chopping!

[@Stoffmonster467]

And faster composting

[@anikahanisch627]

❤ yes so much easier with a mower. Creates more surface area very quickly = faster composting and no backache!

[@judifarrington9461]

I’ve been doing this with my garden this year, as well as kitchen scraps. I have compost bins, but this seems so practical in the fall. Great video!

[@heidibentz390]

I have tried this before! It was a great way to fill a new raised bed.

[@HennoS]

Hey Luke, I see the benefits of this method but I also think this could be done easier and maybe even more efficient. Squash breaks down very easily. I've thrown all mine on top of the bed, chopped it up a bit and left it as a mulch. The mulch protects the soil a bit during winter and it all breaks down where I want it. It saves digging and disturbing the soil and mimics nature really well. I'd consider trench composting the juicy ripe stuff to get rid of smells or attention from rodents. Leaves and branches including the squash plant won't attract problems and serves well as mulch. The squash plant will be gone when next year's seasons starts and its nutrients are right where you want them. Trench composting works well but I believe Mulching has a higher value for many materials. It might also depend on what the next crop will be that gets planted in that area.

[@stevezemke1838]

Perfect. Putting the vegetation on top reduces soil disturbance,reduces carbon release and reduces methane emissions through anaerobic composting

[@valeryclayton1893]

I do the same thing with buckwheat cover crops. Once they die I chop them down and leave them as mulch. Over the winter they break down while protecting the soil.

[@janicemartin1580]

Me too! I pick areas I want to build up, throw all these garden goodies on top, chop, cover with mushroom compost and soil. I also bury the winter's crockpot compost of kitchen scraps in it. Next planting season, I have a great new bed, ready to plant. Very easy method.

[@nevertoooldtolearn6400]

Hi Luke. I actually did this a few weeks ago. Being a former farmer I thought why not bury the sweet potato vines. I also did at the same time the core method you showed a few weeks ago too.

[@kimberlyyoung9499]

Love your videos! This is my second year container gardening and I layer browns on bottom then green and scraps and last about an inch or two of either store bought soil or my own then plant either seeds or seedlings and they are doing amazing.. I have one tomato plant that has a stalk about the thickness of a small tree

[@jacklily999]

Thanks Luke! I learn a bunch of things each time I watch one of your videos.

[@haydehabdolahian7691]

I got so many volunteers tomato plant all over in the container compost I started 😊

[@julieemig432]

I used to do this and also would turn the leaves in that way. I just moved and am starting a new garden. Using cardboard, to smother and compost the grass . Putting lawn clippings and compost on top of cardboard. Can’t wait until spring!

[@grantjohnson5308]

I just remebered a few weeks ago helping my grandpa bury his orange and grapefruit rinds all around his trees and always getting compliments on having the best fruit around. I will try this. I have been throwing my garden post in a separate pile and will just bury in my beds that are coming open. I still have those fall crops going.

[@Lorij83]

I like this idea. Now to get the energy to follow through.

[@RevLetaLee]

I have done a bit of this because it just made sense. Thank you, so much easier and so much good sense. I feel like I have confirmed and feel stronger in choosing this as one of my methods of feeding living soil.

[@debbycastellitto6659]

I’m learning so much from the gardening videos. So much we don’t need to buy because the Earth has given it to us! Thank you ❤

[@AnnieandCC]

This spring I created a new garden by tilling then applying thick wood mulch. After allowing it to sit for a few weeks I created rows by raking back the wood chips (free from the city we live in). With more wood chips left over, we started placing our compost material from the kitchen into the walkways between the rows and covered with a thick layer of wood mulch. I’m not saying the compost was the trick because there were other factors BUT, perhaps it helped! I liked it because the chips are going to break down anyhow and perhaps in a few years could turn into additional soil…

[@paultaylor7570]

You will surprised how fast the wood chips will break down.

[@marksieber4626]

I run stuff through a chipper-shredder before then use that as a mulch especially around/over my garlic and asparagus, horse radish roses and lilies. I vermi compost with a 5 gallon bucket throughout the year. As it gets full I spread that on the garden.

[@beast64375]

Been doing this for years, doesn't matter what it is, weeds, plants, or other; just run through with the mower, let it dry for a day or so, and plow it under.

[@jillstavos7344]

I want to get a shredder and this is one reason why. Chop things up and compost.

[@chelseysmith6805]

So easy. So practical. Love it!

[@tinatippin5705]

I have been considering this, for sure. It makes sense. I was wondering about grass and leaves. You cleared that up for me. Thanks!

[@elizabethjohnson475]

Fantastic idea. Ive actually done this before and totally forgotten! And boy does it work. I also put a ton of fall leaves in there, too. By spring planting---not a trace! All decayed into gorgeous soil! Thanks for the reminder to go to the local bait shop and get more worms.

[@Kylescultivationfarmsandfilmst]

trench composting is one of my favorites and you can also add bokashi to it and also do what's called a Vermi Trench. Bentley Christie the compost guy talked about it It's a combination of trench composting and vermicomposting

[@janicemartin1580]

I use cheese making whey in lieu of bokashi. It helps kitchen scraps break down much faster, without aroma!

[@forsuchatimeasthis2267]

My favorite Gardner! Your the best.! Thanks for sharing this, Closed loop composting.Great information

[@Thermaladvantage]

I live in Phoenix, Arizona and I do this all summer long when not growing anything in my raised beds. I also compost EVERYTHING! Dennis

[@MarliesCalvillo]

Ive gardened for almost 50 years. I need to make everything a bit more easy maintenance. I'm going to do this so that I don't have to do so much hauling and lifting. (FYI, I spent some of my childhood in the outback of Australia, and some folks dug holes and dumped compost materials into them before planting fruit trees and also did trench composting for their vegetable garden. They had a lot of success in very harsh environment.

[@MIgardener]

That’s super cool! Trench composting is an amazing method.

[@rkh7904]

I like the idea of keeping it all in the loop.Thanks for the tip. 😀

[@valjalava1951]

Yes great video,my husband has been doing this method for years works very well

[@stasiaharpe3507]

I just got into gardening this year and this channel has been So Helpful! Thanks for the great video, I was just researching how to compost, perfect timing lol

[@terigeorge5545]

I did this with all my neighborhood pumpkins. I was prompted by a previous Luke video explaining how much fertilizer and water are used to grow pumpkins for Halloween. My garden loved it!

[@mitzimarquez2410]

Definitely going to try this method this year. So much easier. Thank you

[@theurzamachine]

During the growing season, I have a dedicated area for this while at the end of the season, this is done everywhere possible.

[@kaoserdnase]

Been doing it the last few years. Had a bumper crop of everything this year

[@wyndwalkerranger7421]

Here in central NH unless we have a continuous good snow cover it is impractical to get below frost depth. For years I have been rototilling in my plants at the end of the season. With a couple of months of relatively warmer weather at the end and beginning of the season, I assume I am doing something similar to what you are doing. Seems to work for me, thanks for the video.

[@love2can]

Hi, Luke. I chop and drop in the bed for Fall. I also clear out my chicken run/coop & yard. I just toss everything on top. I cover with cardboard until March. I uncover, mix everything that has not decomposed into the bed and recover. I live in WA state so around Mother’s Day I uncover and wake up my garden. I get such beautifully HUGE worms and my soil is very happy 😊I also toss kitchen and yard waste to the chickens or right on top of my asparagus ferns. After the new year I chop and drop the asparagus ferns, feed the bed and cover with pine needles or shavings from our own cutting. My asparagus bed is 20 years old and very prolific and 🪱 worm filled.

[@Chris-qg8ss]

Thanks Luke. Great composting tips.

[@bridgetscott2816]

This is so super great! This method could change gardening, making it highly efficient and effective! Way to go luke!🎉

[@MotosAllotmentGarden]

Doing these for some years now, works great

[@cmrncrick]

I wish you knew just how much you have taught me. Thank you. I will be trying this next year.

[@MIgardener]

You are so welcome! Thank you so much for your support! Happy Gardening.

[@maureenderasmo9188]

Definitely trying this and suggesting for our new community garden.

[@michellesfinebeadedart8140]

Oh my goodness!!!!! This is amazing . Thank you. This is my 2nd year and I can’t wait to try this …..

[@randthor9344]

After watching this vid, I'm definitely trying it for the first time!

[@richardcooley6061]

just built my garden this spring still trying to fill it with dirt so this might help next year I already cleaned it and covered it with grass clippings and I am waiting to fill it with leaves after they fall and I chop them with the mower.

[@dadmezz4024]

Yep, do it around all my plants and garden. Thanks for my hybrid pink tomatoes from you this year we had harvested big, tasty, lower acid, and abundant crop until frost from only 7 plants. Well worth the purchase!

[@franci9936]

This method works very good for me, been doing it for three years so far. Sometimes I put baking soda blood meal and my crushed eggshells, and most my leaves, they are gone by the time I plant in the spring. I sometimes forget that I did that until I see the fall leaves again. Only put backing soda where I plan to grow tomatoes and squash. I also use the pumpkins I don’t need anymore for my decor. I keep one for pumpkin pie and bread.

[@johnbrzenksforearm8295]

I've done this a few times. The last time I did it a racoon and marsh rats dug it up and ate it. I bury them deeper and then cover with a tarp to help with critters.

[@wizeone37]

I am definitely going to try this. I am in zone 9A (NW Florida) and once I harvest my cabbages, I will give it a shot. What a great idea!! Thanks!

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

Good tip, thanks. I have a compost tumbler and it's full; I have a bunch of Malabar spinach vines that I wasn't sure what to do with. Now I know!

[@diannaboffer7706]

I've never heard of this method but excited to give it a try .😊

[@MIgardener]

Hope you like it!

[@yeevita]

Definitely try to close the loop!

[@kentdavis6437]

I'll definitely be doing this for now on. Thanks Luke.

[@BiLuOma]

Thanks for explaining the fungus fact - good and bad - I was worried then I added my mildew covered squash leaves to the compost pile, now I know it's ok to have done so.

[@markalford5406]

I’m planning on this and will cover with leaves. Good reminder thanks.

[@jeremiewampler]

Yep doing this this weekend, all my compost bays are full and have been putting off the garden cleanup…why didn’t I think of this sooner

[@Nestln̈nnestle333]

I do those ways in my garden with out knowing it was our grandfather's methods , thanks for the explanation

[@Firevine]

85 degrees in Michigan. Meanwhile, in Georgia, I've turned the heat on a couple times already. We got into the low 40‘s here.

[@antonkrysa1433]

I dig a compost trench in my garden every year but I don't cover it up with the removed dirt until the following spring. I add kitchen scraps and leaves in the trench while it's open. That somewhat compensates for the lost organic matter that was harvested. Getting bagged leaves from the neighbors is a bonus. I also seed the adjacent dirt pile from the trench with rye grain. By spring it's 1 to 2 feet tall and makes great green manure to add to the trench.

[@barbaramix1683]

I will try this method this week with my pumpkin vine and left over pepper plants. I am starting a new raised bed and this might help to save me some money and make some good soil for the bottom of my raised bed.

[@janellenelson7361]

I was going to do this with the remains of my summer garden but was hesitant. I’m glad it’s actually a thing!

[@kelsikellogg3637]

My compost pile is directly in my fenced-in garden. I just change the location of the pile each year so a new area is receiving all of those nutrients!

[@alannakennedy5273]

Yes I'll try it with leaves particularly in my potatoe area planned for next year.

[@katrinabickford6906]

Yes! I’m going to do this. It’s brilliantly logical. Thank you!

[@La_La_La3]

Too late this year now, but I will definitely try this next year.

[@ebradley2306]

Great idea in places that have winter. Here I garden all year so don't have the luxury of a period of rest.

[@suevriesman5757]

We plan to try this. Thanks.

[@nick39071]

💯 Have used this method in my raised beds. Thanks!!!

[@melodyludwick6038]

I am definetly use this method. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@patrickmeyer9419]

I always used to dig out my tomato beds and Bury the plants right back into the bed.

[@robertsanders339]

I do something similar I have buckets I layer with dirt the something that will compost keep layering next year my dirt is nice soil

[@frankbarnwell____]

I'm doing that. Trying to get cabbage, broccoli, collards, radish, and carrots I started in August. Sun, water, good soil. Carrots are so frustrating Texas coast zone 9. Good luck. Luke

[@JamesBond-qd5rc]

I've used the method and think it is a good practice.

[@lisascott9670]

Thanks Luke!

[@Dianatorres6990]

I do that,but I take all that and use my lawn mower and mulch down to help the process. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@lisahanrahan8452]

I have done this when I lived in Connecticut. Now I live in VA. Just pulled up my zucchini a few days ago, so think I’ll get it back from the compost pile and trench it in the garden. I’ve also done this with leaves. It’s a lot of work, digging, because the soil here has a lot of clay- I know, all the more reason to supplement the soil with compost!

[@lisahanrahan8452]

I was glad to hear that it doesn’t matter if the zucchini leaves have powdery mildew. Thanks for your videos, Luke. 😊

[@DDGLJ]

What a great idea! If you have one, you could also run the lawnmower with a bag to chop up the garden refuse.

[@MBEspinosa]

Several years ago I had to have a gas tank dug up (they changed the system). There was a large hole left in the ground, I had it filled with the remains of pruning when a gardener assisted me. But I did that because my grandfather had a country house and I saw how waste was treated at home. In addition to common sense, we must understand how the invertebrates with which we coexist almost always work for the better. Except for some harmful ones, there are many beneficial organisms without which there would not even be soil (substrate) for vegetables...

[@christophergetchell6490]

I usually do chop and drop and clean up after the winter, but I think I'm going to use my scraps and dying plants from the garden to help build a new bed for next year and see how it goes! I have worms like crazy here and they should help with the addition of some finely mulched leaves and grass clippings!

[@snadraholdway830]

Just did that this morning before watched the video lol. Glad it was a good idea 😊

[@danarandol164]

Will you use cover crops? What will you use to cover?

[@backyardmetalcasting]

Thanks Luke

[@stevehatcher7700]

My garden is on an ever so slight slope. The compost piles live at the top. Leachate flows down hill and some of it makes its way back into the garden.

[@jpc1147]

I've heard of people taking large residential sewage pipes and cut them into about 1.5 feet lengths drilling large holes in the pipe that well be buried down into the ground for worms to climb in and out of. The pipe in the ground is then fed raw compost ingredients. What are your thoughts on this Luke

[@debbietabor3493]

Definitely giving it a try❣️. Thank you ❤

[@MIgardener]

You’re welcome 😊happy gardening!

[@dr.froghopper6711]

I leave all roots in the ground. Then i chop and drop all garden waste, add cover crops to my beds in seed form and bury it all with compost from the heap. The cover decomposes over the winter and more roots are in the ground. Done properly, there’s very little waste in the garden.

[@janiecehamblen933]

I am moving from in ground to raised beds so this would really help

[@twohomesteads6512]

I do something similar. I lay all the old plants and weeds in the walkways. The roots from the plants in the beds reach right down into to walkways. I scoop soil out of the walkways back into the beds when I am replanting them.

[@naturekins604]

I use my paths to trench compost then next year the path becomes the bed and the old walkway gets a nice layer of chips or other mulch to prevent compaction and protect the soil.I just put the plant mater in the path and then shovel some soil from the old bed on top of the plant matter. I then plant my early seeds right into that soil I have forked onto the plant material , top with a bit of light mulch like leaf mold and they stay there all winter . The seeds sprout first thing in spring as soon as the conditions are right.

[@debracutler6847]

I’m going to try this

[@sparkysoutdoors6240]

Carp are a great resource in the spring for trench composting

[@kristagalassi30]

Any idea of timing how long before you can grow in the bed again? Here in 9B I like to grow in fall since early spring gets too hot and all the cool season things bolt by March. Only a few nights will it dip a little below freezing but never enough to freeze the soil. Can I still do this if I’m going to plant something else there soon?

[@cherylmiller2272]

I'm going to do this!!!

[@siinamorin6251]

I do this with dead green bean plants, but definitely going to try it with my squash and melon plants!

[@patsybulkley]

Yay, it's nice to find I'm still subscribed! Great video Luke! I've been doing this for a few years, but after I watched this video, I got to thinking. What would happen if I put my basil plant that has gone to seed in the trench? I'm thinking (and hoping) I won't have to buy basil seeds or plants next year. lol

[@lakessbm]

Im totally doing this tomorrow

[@jeffbalnius4034]

i was wondering what i could do with my leftover corn stalks and here`s my answer.just tried this method 2 weeks ago but next year i will be doing it right after my garden is done for the year when the soil isnt so clumpy and wet.

[@lovinlifeinNC]

I remember doing this in our northern garden as a child, even digging through the snow to bury our kitchen scraps in the garden. The thing is, now I live in the south (NC), where we plant year round, so how could we possibly do this? At this moment, in November, I am growing collards, beets, carrots, spinach, and onions, though I could have added garlic, kale, lettuce, etc.

[@susanmarty5107]

I seemed to have quite the squash vine bore infestation this last season - is it ok to use those old plants in this method? Thanks so much for all the useful information!