Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following points will help you master the art of composting.
After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.
It is safe to compost
- Grass clippings / Trimmings from hedges
- Vegetable scraps / Leaves
- Potting soil that has grown old / Twigs
- Coffee filters with coffee grounds / Tea bags
- Weeds that have not went so seed / Plant stalks
- Crushed egg shells
It is NOT safe to compost
- Weeds that have went to seed
- Dead animals / Pet faeces
- Bread and grains / Meat
- Grease / Cooking oil / Oily foods
- Diseased plants
There are small forms of plant and animal life which break down the organic material. This life is called microorganisms. From a minute amount of garden soil or manure come plenty of microorganisms.
Nitrogen, air, and water will provide a favourable environment for the microorganisms to make the compost. Air circulation and water will keep the microorganisms healthy and working. The nitrogen feeds the tiny organisms. You may have to add a small amount of nitrogen to the pile. – Putting on too much nitrogen can kill microbes and too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. You just cannot add to much air.
Bacteria are the most effective compost makers in your compost pile. They are the first to break down plant tissue. Then comes the fungi and protozoan to help with the process. The arthropods, like centipedes, beetles, millipedes and worms, bring in the finishing touches to complete the composting.
The materials will break down faster if the microorganisms have more surface area to eat. Chopping your garden materials with a chipper, shredder, or lawnmower will help them decompose faster.
The activity of millions of microorganisms generates heat in the compost pile but a minimum size 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot is needed for a hot, fast composting pile. Piles that are any larger may hamper the air supply needed in the pile for the microorganisms.
If you can imagine a wet squeezed out sponge with its many air pockets, then this would be the ideal environment for the microorganisms in the pile to function at their best. Pay attention while your pile is composting, to the amount of rain or a drought you may have. Water in a drought and maybe turn the pile in a lot of rainy days. The extremes of these two may upset the balance of the pile. The use of a pitchfork would come in handy at this time.
Keep your pile between 110F and 160F and the beneficial bacteria will love it. Not too cool, nor too hot. The temperature will rise over several days if you keep a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen, maintain lots of surface area within a large volume of material, and maintain adequate moisture and aeration.
The importance of compost:
Compost has nutrients, but it is not a complete fertilizer.
Compost provides nutrients in the soil until plants need to use them.
It loosens and aerates clay soils and retains water in sandy soils.
The use of compost:
A soil amendment: mix 2 to 5 inches of compost into gardens each year before planting.
A potting mixture: add one part compost to two parts potting soil.
Make your own potting mixture by using equal parts of compost and sand.
Mulch prod cast: 2 to 4 inches of compost around annual flowers and vegetables, and up to 5 inches around your trees and shrubs.
A top dressing: mix finely sifted compost with sand and sprinkle evenly over lawns.
Once you have mastered the art of composting, look very seriously at making your very own aerated compost tea. This elixir will give you results that are hard to believe and will be descript in next week’s blog.
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