Grass Compost: How to Do It Without Unnecessary Waste

When I started working on my garden, it was essentially a plain meadow. The first major task was regular mowing, but soon a question arose: what to do with all the cut grass? Instead of hauling it away or leaving it to rot in piles, I decided to set up a compost bin.

Year One - Grass and Wood Shavings

Fresh cut grass is rich in nitrogen, but on its own it tends to clump into a dense, poorly aerated layer that decomposes anaerobically and smells unpleasant. So I mixed every batch of grass with wood shavings - these act as a carbon-rich material that creates a porous structure and helps maintain the right carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.

In addition, I:

• turned the compost regularly (roughly every two days) to let air reach the interior - aerobic bacteria work much faster and without the bad smell,
• watered it when needed during dry spells - compost should be about as moist as a wrung-out sponge, not waterlogged or dried out.

Year Two - Grass Mixed with Old Compost

This year I changed my approach: instead of wood shavings, I started mixing fresh grass with old compost. This introduced live microorganisms and fungi into each new batch, significantly speeding up decomposition. The effect is the same - structure, aeration, proper moisture - but as a bonus, the old compost gets “reactivated” and finishes breaking down fully.

I also notice that even when I fill the bin to the top with fresh grass, the volume drops considerably - through decomposition and water evaporation, the mass shrinks to a fraction of its original size. There’s always plenty of room left in the bin.

Conclusion

Good quality compost can be made from grass alone - you don’t need a mix of kitchen scraps, leaves, or other materials. The key is straightforward: proper mixing, regular aeration, and keeping an eye on moisture. Grass doesn’t have to rot away in smelly piles - it can be turned into valuable soil amendment that comes in handy for every gardening task.