Mature compost can be used on flowerbeds, gardens, hedges, and bare spots in the lawn. Composting neutralizes any fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides you might have applied, so it is safe to use in almost every application.

You should be able to rotate out your compost every six months, which means you will have a steady supply of rich humus for your property, and also an ongoing solution to yard waste. So, if you are sold on the idea of composting, you simply have to pick which method you want to use.

There are three basic methods used for composting; you should choose the one that best fits your lifestyle, the amount of waste material you generate, and how long you want to wait for the finished product. The three primary methods are bins, heaps, and tumblers.

Bins. If you can measure, saw, and nail, you can build the perfect composting bin to your specifications—and it's a great way to use up short pieces of lumber from previous construction projects. Or, for between $50 and $100, you can purchase a composting bin in a range of sizes and materials.

The basic design for a compost bin is a box with air slits on the side, but bins made of wire mesh also work well, as do cinder block designs. Bins are a good choice because they provide protection from animals like rats, mice, and raccoons; they keep the compost area tidy and contained; and they allow for higher heaping, which helps increase heat by insulating the core of the pile.

Bins should be designed so that you can easily access the pile to turn and easily remove the final product. If you decide to go the bin route, build two and place them side by side. This will allow you to establish one bin and get it to the cooling/maturation stage, then start the second one. Just like when making sourdough bread, use a few shovelsful of the cooling compost as a "starter" for your new bin and watch how quickly your clippings break down.

Heaps. If you are looking for the easy path to composting, there's nothing more basic than the heap method. Simply put, you just dump your clippings and kitchen scraps into an out-of-the-way spot downwind of the home and let nature take its course.

However, the heap method takes longer because less heat is generated due to the lack of enclosure. This may be problematic if you want to use your compost on your vegetable garden because the end product won't be as sterile as with the bin method. Still, pile composting can be successful if you don't generate that much waste and have plenty of time to wait.

Tumblers. If you are looking for the cleanest way to compost, or if you are limited in backyard space, tumblers are the way to go. Looking similar to a small concrete mixer, tumblers are compact, easy to operate, pest resistant, and produce high-grade compost in less time than traditional bins.

The downside to using tumblers is that they can't handle that much material and are most effective when the refuse is added all at once. This means that you may have to save up a few rounds of lawn clippings, depending upon the size of your yard, before you have enough to get a strong batch of compost going.