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Where To Buy Compost Article
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Composting is an Organic Gardener's Best Friend
from: Lawn and Garden MagicSince it's organic in nature, compost is one of the best substances a gardener can use to help their plants grow strong and healthy without exposing them to any of the chemicals present in most fertilizers and pesticides.
The concept behind having an organic garden is simple: For thousands of years, before humans started to intervene in the process, the earth had no problems taking care of itself. Whatever is planted grows, matures, then dies and is returned to the earth through the natural process of decomposition. This organically decomposed matter -- compost -- is rich in soil-enhancing nutrients that increase the strength and health of future plants.
Compost is the end product of a complex feeding pattern of hundreds of creatures including bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects. What remains after these organisms break down organic materials is the nourishing, wholesome substance your garden plants will love.
Additional great features of compost are that it's easy and cheap to make and recycles material that would otherwise decompose in landfills where it wouldn't do any real good. Surprisingly, almost a third of the matter found in landfills is organic material that could have been composted and returned to the land in a more positive manner by using the compost to increase the health of garden soil. It also encourage the growth of stronger, less disease-prone plants.
The way to start composting is to build a small pile of leaves and other lawn debris, and add in coffee grounds, tea leaves, orange peels, eggshells and other garbage that will decompose. As it matures, this organic matter will decompose, and become compost that can provide nourishment for the microorganisms necessary to maintain garden soil in a healthy, balanced condition. These microorganisms, in turn, will produce nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus necessary for soil and plant health.
Just about any organic material is suitable for a compost pile, though you do need to balance the carbon-rich materials such as dried leaves, straw and wood chips, also known as "browns," with the nitrogen -- rich materials such as lawn clippings and kitchen scraps.
Carbon provides energy for the microbes, and the nitrogen provides protein; using too much carbon material will cause the materials in your compost to take longer to break down, while too much nitrogen will make the pile smelly. Many gardening experts consider the best ratio between these two to be 25 parts "browns" to every one part of "greens." If you can grind up yard waste prior to putting in your compost heap, it will disintegrate faster.
A word of caution: Some leaves and branches contain natural toxins and should not be included in your composting process. All parts of black walnut trees should be excluded, as well as leaves from eucalyptus trees, poison ivy, poison oak and sumac.
Where To Buy Compost News
Experiment brings Phoenix Open waste to Pinetop-Lakeside - White Mountain Independent
Experiment brings Phoenix Open waste to Pinetop-Lakeside White Mountain Independent PLSD is always looking for paper and cardboard products. Residents can drop off paper for recycling or buy compost during business hours. |
Jicama needs warmth, sun and moisture - Victoria Times Colonist
Jicama needs warmth, sun and moisture Victoria Times Colonist Dear Helen: My compost bin is infested with wood lice. How can I control them? A. Wood lice (sow bugs, pill bugs, wood bugs) are almost inevitable dwellers ... |
House & Home Usher in spring with the 2010 Realtors Home and Garden Show - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
House & Home Usher in spring with the 2010 Realtors Home and Garden Show Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Using compost-based soil, planting vegetable gardens and harvesting storm-water has a big impact too. It's about building a healthier lifestyle,” he said. ... |
Spring Gardening 2010: Compost Is In, Chemicals Are So Out! - Huffington Post (blog)
 Huffington Post (blog) | Spring Gardening 2010: Compost Is In, Chemicals Are So Out! Huffington Post (blog) You can make your own compost (and earn a gold star from me) or buy it from your local garden center. In some forward-thinking towns the local recycling or ... |
Garden centres react to 2020 peat-free call as Diarmuid Gavin claims Westland ... - Horticulture Week
 The Guardian | Garden centres react to 2020 peat-free call as Diarmuid Gavin claims Westland ... Horticulture Week Defra says when consumers buy compost they should go peat-free and "play their part in the fight against climate change". Gavin says in the campaign: ... Peat-free alternatives Calls for ban on peat-based compost Defra secretary Hilary Benn launches peat targets at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew |
Dung deal: Panda manure a gift item in Australia - The Hindu
 The Age | Dung deal: Panda manure a gift item in Australia The Hindu Zoo chief executive Chris West said the sales revenue from packets of the celebrity compost would help defray the high cost of growing the bamboo they eat. ... Only the Aussies |