Is there a Best Time of Year to Start Composting? A Horticulturist Weighs In

“Should I start composting?” is a question you might be asking yourself every time you toss a banana peel in the trash or when you crush eggshells in your sink’s garbage disposal. Organic food scraps are ideal additions to throw into a compost bucket or pile—places where the waste can be recycled.

During composting, as the organic materials break down over time, they create a nutrient-dense soil that can be used for enriching your plants and gardens. But when, exactly, should you begin composting? It turns out, there is a time frame that makes the most sense to start. We asked a gardening expert for the best time of year to start composting.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Start Composting?

Late summer and early fall are the best times to start composting, according to gardening expert Melinda Myers, who has more than 30 years of horticulture experience. This is because most people have amassed plenty of raw materials available for composting.

“Fall leaves and vegetable scraps such as rinds are plentiful at this time,” Myers explains. Think: Apple cores, squash seeds, pumpkin rinds, sunflowers past their prime, garden debris, and the other spoils of late summer’s bounty. Once you’ve gotten what you need from them, the scraps will thrive in your compost.

Fallen leaves are excellent additions to the pile. According to the Sierra Club, an environmental organization, composting leaves in fall is particularly advantageous because there’s a mix of fresh and decaying leaves to balance the compost pile’s nutrient content. Still, Myers notes you might not want to do a meticulously careful raking job, since those leaves can also enrich the soil in your yard.

What You Should Never Compost

As for what to avoid, Myers warns against including meat, dairy, fat, or bones that can attract rodents. “No perennial weeds or invasive plants, no annual weeds gone to seed, and no diseased or insect-infested plants," she adds. "Most compost piles do not heat up enough to kill these and you’ll be adding them back to the landscape with your compost."

Lastly, no grass clippings from lawns treated with herbicides, as the herbicides may not break down during the composting process. Instead, leave the clippings on your lawn to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.

While late summer and early fall are abundant in composting materials, there’s certainly no bad time to begin, Myers notes. “Anytime is a good time to start composting,” she says.