How to Start Compost Gardening
Have you ever heard the phrase "compost gardening" and wondered what it meant? Did you notice how your neighbor's garden looks so green and healthy and all the vegetables taste so good? The secret to a terrific garden is compost. The best of gardeners will tell you they get great results using compost in all their garden beds. Consider learning how to start compost gardening and be the envy of your neighborhood.
Learn about composting so you understand what compost is and how to make it. Compost is made of organic matter, which is broken down over time. It adds nutrients to your garden beds and helps plants stay healthy. In essence, it is a combination of fertilizer, mulch and soil conditioner. When compost is sufficiently broken down and ready for use, you add shovels of it to garden beds to make plants grow healthy and strong.
Decide whether you wish to use a compost bin, tumblers, garbage can, a make-shift enclosure or make compost right on the ground. There are several methods for making compost. Select a method for your physical abilities. Compost can be heavy and awkward to turn manually.
Gather composting materials for your pile or bin. Composting materials are classified as browns and greens. Brown materials provide carbon to the compost heap. Use sawdust, shredded newspaper or twigs. Greens contain nitrogen and include grass clippings, weeds and leaves. Kitchen scraps are also used as greens and include coffee grounds, crushed eggshells and vegetable and fruit scraps. Other types of waste materials can be used; it is a matter of finding a source. Do not use dairy products, meat or grease in your compost heap.
Find a source for cow, goat, chicken, horse or rabbit manure. Cow manure is the one used most frequently because it is usually the easiest to find.
Mix all the composting materials together in the container you have chosen. Use only a couple shovelfuls of manure, it does not require a lot. Toss in a couple of shovels of dirt too. This is where you get spoiled, if you have a compost tumbler with a handle to turn and mix all the ingredients. It is a lot easier than turning with a pitchfork.
Place your compost bin in an area outdoors where it will receive good heating from the sun to begin the break down of ingredients.
Water and turn. Each week you should hose down the compost and turn to evenly disburse all the ingredients.
- Get ready to fill your garden beds with compost in as little as two months to an average of about six months. Compost is ready for garden use when all the materials are broken down and it looks like dark brown soil that is moist and smells rich and earthy.