Gardening

Compost Ratio Calculator

Interactive compost mix calculator. Add grass clippings, leaves, cardboard, and kitchen scraps by the bucket — get your carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and fix-it tips instantly.

Mix balance

Add materials below using bucket counts (any container size works — just stay consistent). We will calculate your carbon-to-nitrogen balance.

Green materials (nitrogen-rich)

Grass clippings

C:N ~17:1

Fruit & veg scraps

C:N ~25:1

Coffee grounds

C:N ~20:1

Chicken manure

C:N ~10:1

Fresh green leaves

C:N ~40:1

Brown materials (carbon-rich)

Dry autumn leaves

C:N ~60:1

Straw

C:N ~80:1

Shredded cardboard

C:N ~350:1

Shredded newspaper

C:N ~175:1

Wood chips

C:N ~400:1

Sawdust

C:N ~500:1

Your compost mix

Add at least one material to see your C:N ratio.

How this calculator works

Count materials in buckets — any container size works as long as you stay consistent.
Tap + to add greens (nitrogen-rich) like grass clippings and kitchen scraps.
Add browns (carbon-rich) like dry leaves, cardboard, and straw.
Aim for 25–30:1 overall. Too green smells; too brown sits idle for months.

Step-by-step how-tos with tips from real projects.

Native wildflower garden with coneflowers and black-eyed susans

Gardening10 min read

Native Plants for Low-Maintenance American Landscaping

Swap thirsty turf for regionally adapted natives and you get less mowing, lower water bills, and a yard that actually supports local birds and pollinators.

By James Rivera · Feb 18, 2026

Australian native garden with grevillea and mulch under bright summer sun

Gardening10 min read

Water-Wise Backyard Gardening for Australian Summers

Irregular rain, hard sun, and council water restrictions are normal in Australia — group natives by thirst, mulch heavily, and taper watering after year one for a backyard that survives summer without a nightly hose habit.

By Tom Fletcher · Feb 22, 2026

Gardening

Compost Ratio Calculator

Interactive compost mix calculator. Add grass clippings, leaves, cardboard, and kitchen scraps by the bucket — get your carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and fix-it tips instantly.

Mix balance

Add materials below using bucket counts (any container size works — just stay consistent). We will calculate your carbon-to-nitrogen balance.

Green materials (nitrogen-rich)

Grass clippings

C:N ~17:1

Fruit & veg scraps

C:N ~25:1

Coffee grounds

C:N ~20:1

Chicken manure

C:N ~10:1

Fresh green leaves

C:N ~40:1

Brown materials (carbon-rich)

Dry autumn leaves

C:N ~60:1

Straw

C:N ~80:1

Shredded cardboard

C:N ~350:1

Shredded newspaper

C:N ~175:1

Wood chips

C:N ~400:1

Sawdust

C:N ~500:1

Your compost mix

Add at least one material to see your C:N ratio.

How this calculator works

Count materials in buckets — any container size works as long as you stay consistent.
Tap + to add greens (nitrogen-rich) like grass clippings and kitchen scraps.
Add browns (carbon-rich) like dry leaves, cardboard, and straw.
Aim for 25–30:1 overall. Too green smells; too brown sits idle for months.

Step-by-step how-tos with tips from real projects.

Gardening10 min read

Native Plants for Low-Maintenance American Landscaping

Swap thirsty turf for regionally adapted natives and you get less mowing, lower water bills, and a yard that actually supports local birds and pollinators.

By James Rivera · Feb 18, 2026

Gardening10 min read

Water-Wise Backyard Gardening for Australian Summers

By Tom Fletcher · Feb 22, 2026

Mix balance

Green materials (nitrogen-rich)

Brown materials (carbon-rich)

Your compost mix

How this calculator works

Guides that use this calculator

Native Plants for Low-Maintenance American Landscaping

Water-Wise Backyard Gardening for Australian Summers

Mix balance

Green materials (nitrogen-rich)

Brown materials (carbon-rich)

Your compost mix

How this calculator works

Guides that use this calculator

Native Plants for Low-Maintenance American Landscaping

Water-Wise Backyard Gardening for Australian Summers