Using organic materials to create compost for garden soil?
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Night shots of the flower beds finally filled with soil. I couldn’t wait till the morning to take photos of them.
Question by Cheshire420: Using organic materials to create compost for garden soil?
I’m going to start throwing compostable things, like old fruits and veggies, cut grass, egg shells, ect, into my garden.
My question is whether I should:
Throw them on top of the soil as I get more waste to put on it
Mix it into the soil
or
Put it all in a container for some time, then put it on or in the soil?
Also, what could I do in a short amount of time to make my soil drain a little less slowly?
Thank you!
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
4 Responses to Using organic materials to create compost for garden soil?
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It’s best to make a container for it. Either a plastic box or a clean drum could work, it helps if you rotate it every few days too. You want stuff to stay put (and not get eaten by varmints) but still allow air in to help. Also, adding a little chicken manure or earthworms can kick it off real nice.
As far as soil drain, volcanic rock materials, like pearlite (the little white bbs) or hydroton clay pebbles, will help with water flow as well as aeration. Also, it helps to keep the soil from getting too packed.
Paulo
November 21, 2011 at 1:08 pm
The materials you mentioned all have to be decomposed before they will provide any nutrients to the soil so you might as well just start a regular compost pile. That way you control the mixture of what goes in it and it will actually decompose faster. The easiest and least expensive is to simply dig a shallow hole, say a foot deep by two or three feet wide, in a corner of the garden and put your compost materials in the hole. It is easy to turn and you can throw a shovelful of the dirt your removed back in the compost from time to time. There a lots of sites on line that you can refer to for what can go into a compost and at what ratios. To help soil drainage you can work in a bit of perlite, vermiculite, peat moss or lots of your new compost.
Hondu
November 21, 2011 at 1:57 pm
I would recommend getting a compost bin if you dont have to much stuff, if you have loads then get a coulle of large compost crates this way you can fill one up then start on another one and while filling that the other one will be decomposing into compost, it is best to have a container as the heat helps break the compost down.
To make soild drain less slowly is all about retaining the water so as a few others have mentioned perlite and clay ball will help with this.
Nick Cross
November 21, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Look for natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as the use of compost. Natural fertilizers, compost and organic materials encourage native earthworms. The soil’s organic matter contributes to good soil structure, and water-holding capacity. Improve the soil with organic matter and fertilizers to develop the best soil for growing seeds and plants.
Organic Gardening Tips – http://www.organic-items.com/growing-organic-products.htm
Your main concern when organic gardening is soil health. You want your little ecosystem to be as strong and healthy as possible to support the plants you’re growing and the beneficial microorganisms within the soil that depend upon your plant’s byproducts for nourishment. As you know, these elements work symbiotically to create the best environment for all to survive. Most gardeners begin with a test kit that will provide a detailed analysis of the nutrients present, as well as the acidic or alkaline reading and the drainage level.
More on Organic Gardening – http://www.perennial-gardens.com/flower-articles/organic-gardening.htm
Emma
November 21, 2011 at 2:19 pm