Composting makes use of materials that you would otherwise throw away-food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, tea bags and coffee grounds-and uses them to create a nutrient-rich materials that you can mix with your soil to enhance its effectiveness.
Adding compost is the single best things you can do for your garden.
You can use it as a mulch or fertilizer, eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers and additives.
And all the material that you are able to compost is material that stays out of the landfill.
Here are a few tips for creating the best compost for your garden.
· Set up a compost bin somewhere in your back yard, not too close to the house.
Good compost will not have a strong odor, but it will have a noticeable smell.
Personally, I like it.
I grew up near a farm and am accustomed to the smell, but it is not for everyone.
· Keep a sealable container next to your kitchen sink to accumulate fruit and vegetable scraps.
When it is full, empty it into your compost bin.
· Almost anything derived from a plant can go into your compost.
I typically throw in corn husks, grape stems, orange and lemon peels, watermelon rinds, vegetable peelings from carrots, cucumbers, and squash.
As long as it comes from a plant, virtually anything goes.
· In contrast, while plant waste makes ideal composting material, avoid throwing in scraps of meat, dairy, or fish.
While they are also biodegradable and can be composted, for a home compost bin I recommend not using these types of items because they attract animals you do not want around your house: rats, raccoons, possums, and other similar critters.
· Collect yard waste, especially grass clippings and leaves.
Parts of tree branches, even stems, should be broken into smaller pieces first, as they will otherwise be very slow to decompose.
· Mix green and brown materials in roughly equal amounts.
The green materials, such as a grass clippings and green leaves, are richer in nitrogen.
The brown materials, such as dead leaves, straw, and paper scraps are carbon rich.
The blend of these types of items is what produces a balanced compost.
· You can even compost pieces of newspaper and other paper scraps as long as they are balanced with plenty of moist, fresher plant waste such as banana peels, apples cores, grape stems, and the like.
Remember that an average household that composts food scraps and yard clippings will create about 700-1000 pounds of compost per year, keeping about that must waste out of the municipal curb-side pick up.
The benefit to your garden will also be significant, allowing you to eat organic seasonal vegetables that are healthier and taste better.
Adding compost is the single best things you can do for your garden.
You can use it as a mulch or fertilizer, eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers and additives.
And all the material that you are able to compost is material that stays out of the landfill.
Here are a few tips for creating the best compost for your garden.
· Set up a compost bin somewhere in your back yard, not too close to the house.
Good compost will not have a strong odor, but it will have a noticeable smell.
Personally, I like it.
I grew up near a farm and am accustomed to the smell, but it is not for everyone.
· Keep a sealable container next to your kitchen sink to accumulate fruit and vegetable scraps.
When it is full, empty it into your compost bin.
· Almost anything derived from a plant can go into your compost.
I typically throw in corn husks, grape stems, orange and lemon peels, watermelon rinds, vegetable peelings from carrots, cucumbers, and squash.
As long as it comes from a plant, virtually anything goes.
· In contrast, while plant waste makes ideal composting material, avoid throwing in scraps of meat, dairy, or fish.
While they are also biodegradable and can be composted, for a home compost bin I recommend not using these types of items because they attract animals you do not want around your house: rats, raccoons, possums, and other similar critters.
· Collect yard waste, especially grass clippings and leaves.
Parts of tree branches, even stems, should be broken into smaller pieces first, as they will otherwise be very slow to decompose.
· Mix green and brown materials in roughly equal amounts.
The green materials, such as a grass clippings and green leaves, are richer in nitrogen.
The brown materials, such as dead leaves, straw, and paper scraps are carbon rich.
The blend of these types of items is what produces a balanced compost.
· You can even compost pieces of newspaper and other paper scraps as long as they are balanced with plenty of moist, fresher plant waste such as banana peels, apples cores, grape stems, and the like.
Remember that an average household that composts food scraps and yard clippings will create about 700-1000 pounds of compost per year, keeping about that must waste out of the municipal curb-side pick up.
The benefit to your garden will also be significant, allowing you to eat organic seasonal vegetables that are healthier and taste better.
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