Dogs shed. It’s a fact of life when you welcome a furry canine companion into your home. While some breeds and individual dogs shed less than others, even low-shedding dogs lose hair that needs cleaning up. As the hair piles up, you may wonder what to do with all of it besides tossing it in the trash. Why not put dog hair to use as compost in your garden?
Composting dog hair turns a waste product into a valuable soil amendment that benefits your plants. Hair is high in nitrogen, one of the essential ingredients for making rich, fertile compost. By composting dog fur, you can reduce waste while making “black gold” for your vegetable and flower beds.
Why Compost Dog Hair?
Composting dog hair offers several advantages:
- Reduce waste – Dog hair takes up space in landfills and garbage cans. Composting gives it new life. Even a small amount of compost keeps hair out of landfills.
- Nutrient recycling – Hair contains valuable nitrogen, carbon, and minerals that plants need. Composting recycles these nutrients back into your garden soil.
- Free fertilizer – Nutrient-rich compost boosts soil health and plant growth. It’s a free, organic fertilizer produced from your dog’s natural shedding.
- Eco-friendly – Composting dog fur is much greener than using synthetic fertilizers that run off into groundwater. It shrinks your environmental footprint.
- Satisfaction – Making something useful from an otherwise annoying waste product is rewarding! Composting hair can be highly satisfying.
If you want to go green while improving your soil and gardens, composting dog hair is a smart, earth-friendly choice. Those piles of fur can fuel your compost pile instead of the landfill.
Can You Compost Dog Hair?
Yes, dog hair can absolutely be composted. The keratin protein that makes up fur, hair and nails is completely biodegradable down into its basic organic components.
As an organic substance rich in nitrogen, dog hair breaks down into finished compost given the right conditions. The nutrients it provides feed microbes and plants in the compost ecosystem.
Dog hair has a carbon to nitrogen ratio of about 25:1. This is on par with other high-nitrogen ingredients like grass clippings. Nutrient-wise, dog hair brings more nitrogen than carbon to the compost party.
Ideally, a compost pile has an overall C:N ratio around 30:1. This provides the right balance of energy and nutrients for microbes to thrive and break things down. Dog hair helps achieve this balance when combined with carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, sawdust, or straw.
The bottom line? Dog hair’s organic nature and nitrogen content make it a suitable and beneficial addition to compost. Now let’s look at how to prepare and add it…
Preparing Dog Hair for Composting
Before putting dog hair into your compost pile or bin, it helps to prepare it so it breaks down quickly:
- Collect clean hair – Avoid hair contaminated by chemicals, dirt, feces, etc. Stick to clean hair swept up from floors and furniture, or caught by grooming tools and a pet vacuum.
- Chop it up – Break up or cut clumps of dog hair into smaller pieces. This gives microbes and fungi more surface area to colonize and decompose.
- Mix it in – Scatter and mix hair throughout the compost. Don’t just dump it in one spot. Blending it in helps it decompose evenly.
- Add moisture – Dampen dry hair so it composts faster. Microbes need moisture to thrive. But don’t make it soggy.
With the hair chopped and mixed in, those nitrogen molecules can start breaking down right away. Now let’s look at the best ways to compost dog hair for optimal results…
Tips for Composting Dog Hair
Follow these handy tips when adding dog fur to your compost:
1. Mix It Well
As mentioned, simply dumping dog hair into your compost in clumps or piles will slow decomposition. Take the time to break up hair and scatter it throughout the compost heap. Mixing and chopping thoroughly integrates the fur so microbes can act on it faster.
2. Add High “Green” Materials
Pair dog hair with very high-nitrogen green materials like grass clippings, plant trimmings, fruit and veggie scraps, and coffee grounds. This balances the carbon-heavy dry leaves, paper, etc. A good nitrogen balance helps hair decompose efficiently.
3. Aerate the Pile
Turning and aerating the compost provides oxygen to microbes, speeding decomposition. Use a pitchfork or compost aerator tool to introduce air pockets as you mix in new materials. This keeps the ecosystem lively so it works through hair more quickly.
4. Monitor Moisture
Moisture is key. Dry compost doesn’t support healthy microbial populations. But too much moisture makes compost anaerobic. Check moisture levels often. Add water to dry piles, or mix in straw, sawdust, or wood chips to soak up excess moisture in soggy piles.
5. Use a Compost Accelerator
Consider adding a compost accelerator product when adding lots of dog hair. Accelerators provide microbes, enzymes, and nutrients to speed decomposition. This kick-starts the breakdown of hair and other materials.
6. Wait Patiently
Have realistic expectations for how long dog hair takes to compost. While hair is compostable, full decomposition can take several months. Resist digging into the pile to check. Give hair time to break down naturally.
Be patient and let the composting magic happen! Monitor your pile and make adjustments as needed. With ideal conditions, dog hair will transform into rich, dark compost over time.
Other Uses for Dog Hair Besides Composting
While composting is a top option, dog hair has several other eco-friendly uses:
- Oil spill clean-up – Hair absorbs oil and repels water. Booms filled with dog fur clean up oil spills effectively.
- Stuffing for dog toys – Use fur to stuff chew toys instead of plastic filling. Dogs often find their own hair intriguing!
- Spinning yarn – Dog hair can be spun into yarn and woven into clothing items. Some crafters make hair keepsakes.
- Felting projects – The texture of dog fur makes it great for felting crafts like jewelry, accessories and home decor pieces.
- Insulation – Similar to wool, felted dog hair provides natural insulation with low environmental impact.
Don’t throw away that precious fur – upcycle it into fun and functional items! There are many ways dog hair can provide comfort, joy and purpose beyond just composting.
Is Dyed or Treated Hair Safe to Compost?
What if your pooch gets groomed with dyes, perfumes, or other chemicals in their hair? Can you still compost it?
The short answer is yes, but…it’s controversial. Here are some key considerations:
- Many believe small amounts of treated hair are fine to compost in large piles. But research is limited on chemical impacts.
- Avoid composting hair with potent or toxic ingredients like insecticides or flea meds. These may kill composting organisms.
- Coloring and other cosmetic ingredients are likely low risk. But to be completely safe, stick to composting untreated, chemical-free hair only.
- Talk to your groomer to learn exactly which products are used. Opt for all-natural grooming to get clean hair for composting.
- If in doubt about chemicals on hair, don’t compost it. Hair dyed with natural vegetable dyes or henna is safer to add.
When possible, encourage your groomer to use plant-based, non-toxic products so you can keep composting hair. Or simplify by collecting shed hair at home in between salon visits. This avoids any chemical exposures.
Studies on Composting Dog Hair
Scientific research confirms that composting dog hair works well:
- One study composted a mix of dog hair, human hair, and vegetable waste. The finished compost had excellent nutrient levels and organic matter content.
- In another study, dog hair decomposed fully after 4-5 months in compost. The hair compost was safe for food crops when mature.
- Mixing human and dog hair in compost piles provides an ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. The hair fuels healthy microbial activity and thorough decomposition.
- One analysis found composting a mix of dog hair and garden waste achieved a peak temperature of 140°F. This heat kills pathogens and weed seeds, producing clean compost.
- Researchers observing the composting process noted that fungi and actinobacteria were key to breaking down keratin proteins in dog hair.
- Beyond nutrients, dog hair provides useful organic matter that improves soil’s moisture retention, aeration, and other properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dog hair compost faster if I cut it up?
Yes, chopping or shredding dog hair into smaller pieces provides more surface area for compost microbes to colonize. This kickstarts decomposition so hair breaks down faster than large clumps and mats.
Can I compost hair from dogs treated with flea/tick medication?
No. Never compost hair from dogs recently treated with chemical flea, tick or insecticide products. These substances are very toxic. Even small amounts could kill composting organisms and contaminate your finished compost. Stick to hair from untreated dogs or those using natural remedies only.
How long does dog hair take to decompose in compost?
Dog hair usually takes 4-6 months to fully break down into compost. Exact timing depends on the composting conditions. Chopping hair up and maintaining proper moisture, aeration and temperatures will accelerate decomposition. Stirring and turning the pile helps hair compost faster.
Does dog hair have benefits besides nitrogen?
Yes! Dog hair provides organic matter that improves soil structure, retains moisture, and adds beneficial humic substances. Its fibrous texture also helps aerate soil. The minerals and micronutrients in hair become available to plants as it decomposes.
Should I avoid composting hair from certain dog breeds?
No. Hair from all dog breeds can be composted. Some people worry that hair from dogs prone to matting (poodles, terriers, etc.) won’t compost well. But chopped-up hair from any breed will break down just fine. The key is regularly mixing and aerating the pile.
What ratio of dog hair is ideal for compost?
Aim for dog hair to make up no more than 5% of total compost volume, or about 1 part hair to 20 parts other materials. This provides enough nitrogen without outpacing decomposition. Try sprinkling in a few handfuls of hair each time you add other compost items.
Does dog hair compost smell bad?
Not at all! As an organic material, dog hair shouldn’t cause odor issues during composting. A properly maintained compost pile smells earthy, never putrid. If you notice strong odors, that’s a sign your compost needs more air circulation or moisture adjustment.