Composting: For The Best Garden You Have Ever Grown or Seen
Composting is the natural process of decomposing organic material into a nutrient-rich humus. It involves creating piles or bins with alternating layers of green, nitrogen-rich materials and brown, carbon-rich materials. Maintaining the proper moisture level, oxygen flow, and carbon-nitrogen ratio allows microorganisms to break down the materials at optimum temperatures, producing compost in a few months. The finished compost can then be applied to soil and plants as a natural fertilizer to improve soil quality and plant growth.
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Composting: For The Best Garden You Have Ever Grown or Seen
Composting is the natural process of decomposing organic material into a nutrient-rich humus. It involves creating piles or bins with alternating layers of green, nitrogen-rich materials and brown, carbon-rich materials. Maintaining the proper moisture level, oxygen flow, and carbon-nitrogen ratio allows microorganisms to break down the materials at optimum temperatures, producing compost in a few months. The finished compost can then be applied to soil and plants as a natural fertilizer to improve soil quality and plant growth.
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Composting
For the best garden you
have ever grown or seen. What is Composting?
Composting is the natural way of
degrading organic material into humus and minerals It is a natural aerobic microbiological process that returns plant nutrients to the soil where they can again be absorbed by plants for new growth. It supplies plants with nitrogen or nitrogen containing materials, additional nutrients and beneficial microorganisms Why should we make Compost?
Compost is an excellent soil additive
that increases the productivity and workability of soil. It is also inexpensive and solves the problem of disposing of plant, kitchen wastes and other waste products. Carbon/Nitrogen ratio(C/N) Maximum composting efficiency occurs when Carbon is properly balanced with Nitrogen. To achieve this, blend equal parts by volume of grass clippings with dry leaves and shredded twigs or branches. Urea fertilizer or other nitrogen source can be used in place of green vegetation if necessary – 1 lb. urea to 1 cubic yd. leaves – 6 lb. urea to 1 cubic yd. wood chips – Collected urine from healthy people can also be used. How can you make compost?
Add extra nitrogen to shredded leaves
Or mix 5 parts leaves to 1 part manure Or add dried blood meal, alfalfa meal at the rate of 2 cups to a wheelbarrow load of brown leaves or other carbon rich wastes such as shredded paper. How much to water (H2O)? Ideally you should maintain moisture level at about 50% Compost should feel about like a wet sponge. If compost is dry with no residue of water you should add water. If, when a handfull is squeezed, water runs freely, then there is too much water. In that case, allow compost to dry out by removing any coverings or add more dry material and mix. Is Oxygen (O2) neccessary?
Yes, The bacteria and actinomycetes (fungi) that
do the work must have access to oxygen. If oxygen is in short supply anaerobic organisms will take over and cause a bad undesirable smell. Provide adequate ventilation by turning the pile frequently or by venting. Restrict size of the pile to no more than 5 ft. high and 5 ft. wide. 4x4 makes an ideal size. Any length will do. Or make additional piles. Composting Temperatures Optimum temperatures are between 100o and 140oF because those higher temperatures kill disease organisms, insects, and some but not all weed seeds. Composting at the center of the pile is complete when temperatures within the pile drop below 100o F. Material on the outside edges of the pile may not have reached proper temperatures. If so, turn the pile, putting outside edges inside and allow it to compost more. Will shredding the materials help?
Yes. Smaller particles decompose faster as there
are more surfaces for the bacteria to work on. You should shred brush and prunings to compact them and leaves to prevent layering. However, very small particles may compact and restrict oxygen availability. Therefore a blend of small and large particles will be most efficient. A shredder although expensive is well worth the cost to the devoted composter. For a Successful Compost Pile Step One Select a Site that: 1. Gets shade in the summer and sun in the winter to take advantage of natural heating and cooling. 2. Is convenient for adding materials and for removing finished compost. 3. Has a source of water nearby 4. Does not detract from the landscape and is not a problem for you or your neighbors. Choose your method Step Two II. Containers if used should: - be accessible - resist decay - allow air flow i.e. - poles w/chicken wire, wooden pallets, cinder blocks, prefabricated structures., III. Open composting sheet composting, pit composting, etc. III. Select the Proper Materials
Acceptable Not Acceptable
• Grass clippings • Meats • Leaves and Weeds • Bones • Manures • Large Branches • Coffee Grounds unless chipped • Wood Chips, Sawdust • Synthetic Products • Bark, Stems, Stalks • Plastics • Garden & Canning Waste • Pet or Human Solid • Fruit & Vegetables Wastes IV. Make the Pile Work
A compost pile is not just rotting garbage.
Successful compost piles are structured as follows: 1. Build layers of green plant waste alternating 2. with carbonaceous materials 3. Add water to keep all materials moist but not soggy. 4. Occasionally mix so all the contents are composted. V. Trouble Shooting If the pile or bin develops A strong odor from insufficient oxygen – Turn the pile or bin Pile is damp, but won’t heat - insufficient nitrogen – Add fertilizer, urea or grass clipping Pile is dry and not composting - insufficient water – Form pile so center is lowest to collect rainwater or – add water. Ammonia smell - too much nitrogen – Add sawdust of other high carbon material and turn pile Using your Compost
Your compost is ready to use when the
temperatures within the pile begin to cool and remain steady even after turning. Screening to remove particles larger than 1/2” diameter improves handling and quality. Red worms that may inhabit the pile do not need to be removed when using the compost. They will continue to work on the organic matter present in your soil but they may be unwanted in flower pots. The final product will be dark, have an earthy smell and can be used as an excellent source of plant nutrients. Apply it to your garden and flower beds to create an ideal environment for everything that grows.