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COMPOST! - HUMUS! What’s It All About?
By homejack | April 20, 2008
Want To Increase The Quality And Performance Of Your Flowers and Garden?
You can do it simply and inexpensively by improving your soil. Nature does this by producing about an inch or so of humus every century. You can help speed up the process by composting.
Humus can be produced in one or two years by creating a pile of dead material in a corner of the yard or garden. Throw all leaves, grass clippings, weeds and other lawn waste along with food leftovers from the kitchen on the pile and wait.
In a hurry? No problem. You can speed up the process and have rich, fortified material in as little as 28 days.
WHAT IS COMPOST?
Everything that dies eventually decays into a material called compost or humus. Microorganisms from the earth along with moisture, air and temperature interact to assist in breaking down the material.
The finished product is a nutrient fortified material to use as organic plant food. This material not only feeds the plants but helps to retain needed moisture.
BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING
1. Reduces yard waste by turning it into rich earth that will improve the lawn and garden soil.
2. Reduces yard work - no more bagging or heavy lifting.
3. Decreases landfill volume
4. Saves money by providing material to condition the soil.
5. Eliminates hauling off the debris.
USES FOR COMPOST
Compost can be used in vegetable and flower gardens and other areas of the yard. Use it to mulch around plants, shrubs and even trees. Compost is great to condition sandy and clay soil. Or just spread it to top dress the lawn or garden.
HOW TO MAKE COMPOST
Commercial compost bins are available, but not necessary. You can make your own with a few concrete blocks or a little wire mesh. Anything can be used to contain the compost on the sides. You may decide just to start an open compost pile. It doesn”t matter.
The important part is that the pile is in a level, well drained area open on the bottom and can get air, sun and moisture. The microorganisms from the soil are key ingredients. They interact with the compost to break down the material. The sun provides needed heat.
If a commercial bin is not used, make your pile about 3 to 4 feet on each side and not more than 4 feet tall. Scratch up the soil before starting the pile to allow microorganisms to interact. Keep it covered with black plastic, leaving 3 or 4 inches bare at the bottom for ventilation. Make small holes in the top for water to enter.
As you begin adding waste material (listed at beginning of article), think about balancing the diet.
What?
Yep! The diet should contain materials high with Nitrogen (vegetable peelings, grass clippings) along with those high in Carbons (leaves).
For example, mix one part grass with two parts leaves. The object is to create heat, so experiment with your materials to find the combination that produces the most heat.
Mulch, chip or shred the materials. The smaller, the quicker it will break down. Add a little soil into the mixture and/or use a commercial accelerator or fertilizer.
Keep the pile moist, but not soggy. Mix the material occasionally by turning the pile, but not more than once a week. You should have compost available for use from four to eight weeks.
DON’T ADD THESE MATERIALS TO YOUR COMPOST PILE
? Grass or leaves treated with pesticides
? Sawdust from preservative-treated lumber
? Animal fat or meat scraps
? Insect-infested or diseased plant material
? Manure from meat-eating animals (dogs, cats, etc)
Topics: Lawn/Garden |