It's that time of year again. The leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground. Instead of raking the leaves to the curb for pick up and dumping into a landfill, why not start a compost pile. Compost provides food for every garden whether it's organic or not.
Setting up the Compost Pile
A composting is more than just raking up some leaves. A good mix is to have equal parts of green and brown materials plus enough water to keep it all moist. Use any plant material and leaves in your compost as long as they are not diseased. Branches should be ground in a chipper/shredder before putting them into the compost pile. The smaller the pieces the quicker decomposition takes place. Adding some soil to the compost pile as you build it will add micro organisms that will help with the decomposition.
Select a shady area for your compost pile so it doesn't get dried out quickly by the sun but don't put it where it will sit in water after a hard rain. Have a water source close by so you can keep the compost moist.
You can simply pile up your materials in an out of site area being sure to mix it as you go. A good size to generate the heat required for composting is about 3' x 3' x 3' or one cubic yard. You can build a containment area out of any number of materials. Or you can purchase a more elaborate compost bin which comes in many shapes and sizes.
What are the greens and browns?
Green materials are your vegetable and fruit scraps and grass clippings. These materials provide the nitrogen for your compost pile.
Brown materials are your leaves and twigs, newspapers and boxes, etc. These materials provide the carbon for your compost pile.
It's important to mix these two elements well in your compost pile. You should turn you compost pile at least every week or two to get air into the mix. To prevent the compost from drying out, add water after turning. Do not saturate, the compost pile should be moist like a wrung out sponge.
If you find you have more brown then green material, don't worry about it. Mix them together thoroughly and add some blood meal to provide additional nitrogen.
Do's and Don'ts of Composting
· Do Add:
Vegetable/Fruit scraps from the kitchen (be sure to bury these when adding).
Grass clippings.
Leaves (Except Black Walnut).
Small branches from tree and shrub pruning (Except Black Walnut).
Old plants that have died back in the garden.
Paper (corrugated, news paper, note paper).
Eggshells (preferably rinsed).
Nut shells (The harder the shell the longer to decompose).
Manure (cow, horse, chicken, and rabbit).
Blood Meal (High nitrogen product to boost composting).
Dryer and vacuum lint.
Fur and Hair.
Coffee grounds and filters.
Tea bags.
Sawdust.
Nut shells.
Ashes.
· Don't Add:
Meat products.
Fat, grease or oil.
Dairy products.
Diseased plant material.
Dog or cat feces.
Anything treated with chemical pesticides.
Now that you've got the basics of composting it's time to get started. Pretty soon you'll have plenty of nutrient rich compost for all your gardens.
| Price : | Post Date : Mar 12, 2012 12:15:06
