Composting is an efficient and effective way to turn food scraps, yard waste, and old paper products into a nutrient-dense additive for your garden. It also adds better structure to soil so it lightens clay soils and enhances sandy soils. Compost is my secret weapon to healthy vegetable and ornamental gardens.

Unfortunately, composting at home takes time and patience that many gardeners might not have. And sometimes, your compost pile goes dead and is in need of a fresh start. If you want to give your existing compost pile a boost, a compost starter, or accelerator, will do just that.

Compost starters add beneficial microbes to your compost pile to activate it and get it breaking down more quickly. A little sprinkle of compost accelerator, like this one from Amazon, will get your compost pile working for you in no time! Keep reading to learn more.

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What is a Compost Starter?

Compost starters, also called compost accelerators or boosters, are a mix of organic materials, beneficial microbes, and nutrients like calcium and magnesium that fortify your compost. They create an ideal composting environment to break down anything you add to it.

If your compost pile is always left with chunks of food and yard waste that never seem to degrade, you might want a compost starter to accelerate the decomposition process. There’s nothing worse than a smelly and ineffective compost pile!

How to Use Compost Starter

Compost starters and boosters usually come in powder or pellet form which are sprinkled on top of your existing compost pile. Generally, these products need to be watered lightly and mixed into the pile with a garden fork or shovel. Of course, follow the instructions on the packaging of whichever type of booster you purchase.

Reapplication timing varies with some brands stating to add more booster every time new material is added to the compost bin, and others stating reapplication is necessary every 4 to 6 weeks.

Best Compost Starters to Buy

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