Knowledgebase

Composting #856688

Asked December 27, 2023, 1:09 PM EST

Can peels from lemons and oranges be composted? I bury the items I have to compost.

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

They can be composted but they break down very slowly. Some of the compounds (terpenes) in citrus peels can suppress populations of certain soil organisms so adding a lot of fresh peels to compost bins is not recommended. However, burying small quantities of citrus peels is ok. The peels and their terpenes eventually do break down. You can try putting in smaller pieces or cutting up pieces to help speed this up too. 

Emily

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied January 02, 2024, 12:29 PM EST

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