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Create
Your Own Compost Pile: 5 Tips
Compost is the product of decomposed organic
matter (things like kitchen scraps, leaves, grass and other
garden waste). Organic material like this will decompose with
or without any assistance from you, but why not help it along
and reap the benefits of your own compost pile?
Compost is not considered a fertilizer because it does not
really contain a high level of essential nutrients. It is viewed
as a soil conditioner and does serve many other important functions.
Compost can attract insects such as earthworms and it can also
improve the composition or structure of your soil.
You can try cold composting, which basically means just letting
the organic material sit in the bin. This takes a lot longer
than hot composting where you turn your pile every few days
to supply oxygen to the organisms in your pile.
Location
The first thing you will need to decide is where to start
your compost pile. Check with your city to ensure that there
are no by-laws or ordinances that might prevent you from having
a compost pile or placing it where you want it. You need to
remember that a compost pile can get messy so be sure to place
your pile within easy reach of the hose to deal with any dirt
and muck. Bugs will delight in your new compost pile and make
it their new home, so be sure to keep that in mind when deciding
on a location. A little corner of your garden that is far enough
away from your home and any neighboring properties is probably
the ideal spot for your new compost pile.
Containers
There are many, many composite products on the market now.
There are even gadgets that shake, rattle and roll your compost
for you, but really the only investment you need to make is
a compost container. You can simply fence off your compost
pile or you can use some kind of bin or container to hold your
organic material. This can be homemade or recycled from a large
plastic bin you have around the house or you can purchase one
at your local garden center. The bins designed specifically
for composting come in all sorts of shapes and sizes but the
important thing is to keep it simple. You really don’t need
to spend a lot of money on gadgets you don’t need.
Layer It
A good compost pile starts with layers of waste and soil.
You can start off layering leaves, grass clippings and leaves
over the soil and then start adding your kitchen waste. You
can add things like eggshells, fruit and vegetable scraps,
and coffee grounds to your compost pile. You should never ever
add meat or pet waste to your compost pile. Once you have your
initial layers of garden and kitchen waste, add a layer of
soil and manure.
Moisture
Your compost pile needs to be kept moist, though it should
never be wet. You can add some water whenever your pile seems
to be getting dry. You could consider adding some beer to your
composite pile. Beer contains yeast which will help keep the
bacteria in your compost pile and keep those little critters
happy. Whether you add a mix of beer and water or just H20,
the important thing is to keep that pile moist.
Maintenance
Your compost pile does not require a lot of maintenance. You
want to be sure that you continue adding garden and kitchen
waste to your pile and that you also mix in enough soil and
manure to encourage faster decomposing. You need to keep the
pile moist and you should also turn your compost pile about
once a week to improve circulation and the decomposing process.
Compost is ready when it looks like dark soil and has an earthy
smell. You can now start incorporating your compost into your
garden! You can also use compost in your home plants – but
be warned that it must be sterilized first. To do this, you
must bake your compost in a 200F oven for approximately thirty
minutes.
There really is no best way to compost. Organic matter will
decompose regardless of what you do. What’s important is finding
a method or style that works for you and your gardening needs. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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