Direct composting, also known as trench composting, on-the-spot composting, or in-situ composting, is an effective way to recycle organic waste by using it directly in your garden.

Traditional composting requires you to collect organic material in a compost bin or pile and then wait for it to decompose before using it in your garden. On the other hand, direct composting allows you to bury the organic matter right where it is needed.

Instead of collecting food scraps, yard waste, and other compostable materials in a bin or pile, you bury them in small trenches or holes throughout your garden. Over time, the buried materials decompose and enrich the soil with nutrients.

This method has numerous benefits, including improving soil fertility, reducing waste, and saving time.

Types of direct composting

In-ground composting involves placing organic waste materials directly into the soil where plants are actively growing. There are a few variations of this type of composting:

Trench composting

This method involves digging a long trench about 8-12 inches deep, filling it with organic waste, and covering it with soil.

Trench composting is beneficial for gardens with flowers or vegetables planted in rows.

The compost trenches can be dug in between the rows. As the organic matter decomposes, it will fertilize the surrounding soil and plants.

Hole composting

Hole composting involves digging small holes or pits throughout the garden and filling them with organic waste. This method is suited to smaller gardens that don’t have the space for trench composting.

The holes are typically about 6-12 inches deep and can be up to a foot in diameter.

On-the-spot composting

Similar to hole composting, on-the-spot composting (also called in-situ composting) requires digging a small hole.

However, while hole composting can be done in a random pattern, the placement of in-situ composting correlates to the location of the plants in your garden. The hole is dug beside your plants so they can directly benefit from the organic waste.

Benefits of direct composting

One of the most obvious benefits of direct composting is that it improves soil fertility. As organic matter decomposes, it releases essential nutrients into the soil, promoting healthy plant growth.

Adding organic matter also helps improve soil structure and increases its ability to retain moisture and nutrients.

Composting kitchen scraps and yard waste directly in the garden is not only beneficial to the soil but is also an eco-friendly way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Direct composting eliminates the need for turning and maintaining a compost pile, making it a time-saving and low-effort option for busy gardeners.

Steps for direct composting

In-situ composting is simple and requires minimal equipment. Here is how to get started:

Collect organic waste: Gather kitchen scraps such as vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit scraps. You can also collect yard waste like leaves and grass clippings. Try to have a good mixture of both brown (dry) and green (wet) waste.
Choose a location: Decide where you want to add your organic material. This could be near existing plants, in empty garden beds, or in designated rows for trench composting.
Dig a hole or a trench: Use a shovel to dig a hole or trench to the appropriate depth (6-12 inches for holes, 8-12 inches for trenches).
Add the organic waste: Place the scraps and yard waste into the hole or trench.
Cover with soil: Once the hole or trench is filled with organic matter, cover it with soil. This helps to keep pests away and also speeds up the decomposition process.
Rotate the locations: Rotate the location of your trenches each season to evenly distribute the composted material throughout your garden.

If you want a reminder of these direct composting steps, you can print them out from the project card at the bottom of the post.

By using direct composting as a part of your gardening routine, you can enjoy healthier plants and a more sustainable garden.

Share these tips for direct composting on Twitter

If you enjoyed learning about on-the-spot composting, why not share these tips with a friend? Here is a tweet to get you started:

Don't throw food leftovers into the garbage. Use them for composting directly in the garden. Find out how to do it on The Gardening Cook. #composting #gardentips #directcomposting #ecofriendly Share on X

Pin this post for direct composting

Would you like a reminder of this post for in-situ composting? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch our leaf mulch composting video on YouTube!

Admin note: this post for composting directly on the ground first appeared on the blog in June of 2013. I have updated the post to add all new photos, a printable project card, and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 1 happy garden

Get Started with Direct Composting

Direct composting uses kitchen scraps and garden waste directly in your garden with no need for a compost pile.

It's easy and eco-friendly to do! Print out these instructions and keep them in your garden journal.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

Kitchen scraps and vegetable peelings
Garden waste such as grass clippings and old flowers

Tools

Shovel
Pail

Instructions

Gather kitchen scraps such as vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit scraps.
Yard waste like leaves and grass clippings are also useful.
Choose a spot where you want to add compost. This could be near existing plants, in empty garden beds, or in rows for trench composting.
Use a shovel to dig a hole or trench to the appropriate depth (6-12 inches for holes, 8-12 inches for trenches).
Place the collected kitchen scraps and garden waste into the hole or trench.
When the hole or trench is filled with organic waste, cover it with soil. This helps to keep pests away and also speeds up the decomposition process.
Rotate the location of your trenches each season to evenly distribute the composted material throughout your garden.

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