Simple Composting Yields Big Results With the onset of spring comes the perfect opportunity to start making natural fertilizer for your summer garden.
Spring has finally arrived, and although it's colder than normal this week, I'm really glad it's here.
Soon we'll be basking in the warm summer sunshine and sipping sun-brewed iced tea on our porches. But for now, take time to enjoy the little nuances that make Clevelanders so happy like trading in our scarves for sunglasses, the colorful crocuses popping out of the newly-thawed ground, the tiny buds forming on the ends of branches and the sound of robins chirping in the morning.
Now is the perfect time to consider a compost heap for the garden. Composting cuts down on what we put into landfills and puts many of our edibles and other organic materials back to good use in the gardens, providing much-needed nutrients to our plants. Best of all, compost fertilizer is completely free and natural, making it an excellent choice for sustainable gardens.
Beginning a compost heap in your own backyard is a relatively simple procedure that involves minimal upkeep and yields excellent results when used on a home garden or landscaping foliage. Now is the time to start your compost if you want to be able to use it on your summertime garden.
To begin a compost pile, simply place a plastic garbage can in the rear corner of your backyard, away from common areas. Drill lots of dime-sized holes into the sides of the can (I usually do about 40 holes total for a large plastic can), as well as several holes in the lid. I recommend using the lid only if you must to prevent offensive odors and during heavy downpours. Letting enough air into the bin helps to mature the compost faster.
Begin to pour all of your plant and animal-based scraps into the can: grass clippings, leaves, apple cores, cherry pits, lettuce hearts, tomato stems, potato skins, chicken bones, discarded pieces of meat, eggshells, banana skins, nut shells--even saw dust and newspaper. Add these items into the bin every day instead of throwing them away. You’ll be amazed at how much compost your everyday waste will make (and how much it cuts down on your use of trash bags).
Aerate the pile every couple of days by using a small rake or shovel to mix and turn the items in the bin so that no item ever gets too “comfy” in its placement. Aerating the compost helps it to break down faster.
Soon we'll be basking in the warm summer sunshine and sipping sun-brewed iced tea on our porches. But for now, take time to enjoy the little nuances that make Clevelanders so happy like trading in our scarves for sunglasses, the colorful crocuses popping out of the newly-thawed ground, the tiny buds forming on the ends of branches and the sound of robins chirping in the morning.
Now is the perfect time to consider a compost heap for the garden. Composting cuts down on what we put into landfills and puts many of our edibles and other organic materials back to good use in the gardens, providing much-needed nutrients to our plants. Best of all, compost fertilizer is completely free and natural, making it an excellent choice for sustainable gardens.
Beginning a compost heap in your own backyard is a relatively simple procedure that involves minimal upkeep and yields excellent results when used on a home garden or landscaping foliage. Now is the time to start your compost if you want to be able to use it on your summertime garden.
To begin a compost pile, simply place a plastic garbage can in the rear corner of your backyard, away from common areas. Drill lots of dime-sized holes into the sides of the can (I usually do about 40 holes total for a large plastic can), as well as several holes in the lid. I recommend using the lid only if you must to prevent offensive odors and during heavy downpours. Letting enough air into the bin helps to mature the compost faster.
Begin to pour all of your plant and animal-based scraps into the can: grass clippings, leaves, apple cores, cherry pits, lettuce hearts, tomato stems, potato skins, chicken bones, discarded pieces of meat, eggshells, banana skins, nut shells--even saw dust and newspaper. Add these items into the bin every day instead of throwing them away. You’ll be amazed at how much compost your everyday waste will make (and how much it cuts down on your use of trash bags).
Aerate the pile every couple of days by using a small rake or shovel to mix and turn the items in the bin so that no item ever gets too “comfy” in its placement. Aerating the compost helps it to break down faster.
Continue to put new items into the bin and aerate several times per week and within a matter of just a couple of months, you’ll have usable, nutrient-rich compost when it comes time to fertilize your summer garden. It’s really that simple!
Tip: To make your compost mature even faster, try heading to a local bait shop or pet supply store to purchase a handful or two of earthworms to live in your composting bin. Earthworms work to coninuously aearate the compost and add precious nitrogen throughout the pile, which helps the compost to break down more quickly.
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