Reasons You Should Start Using Compost For Your Garden
Have you ever gazed upon your garden, a haven of blooming flowers and vibrant greenery, nurtured with love and care? Just like children, these plants thrive on your dedication, needing the best nourishment to flourish.
Imagine waking up to fresh, life-giving air every morning, your home filled with the vibrant sights and sounds of nature's beauty. Your plants do that for you, but did you know there's a hidden key to unlocking their full potential?
It's not just about watering and sunlight.
Do you know what we are talking about?
When you are gardening, you should keep one of the key things in mind: It's all about the Soil.
The Importance of Soil
The quality of Soil influences the health of your plants. If you've got rich Soil teeming with organic life (micro-organisms and fungi), your plants will have an easy time growing. However, all are aware of how solids' nutritional value is depleting daily.
Then how can you maintain the good health of your plants? Well, it's pretty easy: Use Organic Compost for your Soil.
Role of Compost in Increasing Nutritional Value of Soil
Compost is just a term used to describe decayed organic materials. When food scraps, old plants, meat, bones, and anything else that was once alive break down, it eventually turns into a substance that looks like Soil.
That process can happen naturally over a long period, or you can speed it up by composting those materials.
Let's see how organic Compost increases the nutritional value of Soil:
- Improves water and nutrient retention in sandy soil.
- Loosens tightly bound clay or silt soil, facilitating root growth, drainage, and air circulation.
- Prevents soil erosion, reducing spattering on plants and the spread of diseases.
- Holds nutrients securely while allowing plants to access them as needed.
- Lightens soil texture, making it easier to work with.
- Supports healthy plant growth by fostering a diverse ecosystem of beneficial organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects, and worms.
- Enhances nutrient availability by breaking down minerals and nitrogen into plant-accessible forms.
- Maintains soil aeration through the presence of beneficial insects, worms, and other organisms that burrow through the soil.
That’s what plant parents want for their garden. However, in the excitement and happiness of providing their plants with the best, sometimes they make the mistake of overdoing it.
Let’s ensure you don’t make any mistakes by knowing how to use Compost correctly.
How to Use Compost in Your Garden?
For Existing Plants
Sprinkle a 1-2 inch layer of compost around your existing plants, focusing on the "drip line" (the area beneath the foliage). This provides a readily available source of nutrients and encourages healthy root growth.
New Garden Bed
If you're getting ready to till your gardens' soil after winter or start a new garden bed, mix in a generous amount of compost with your existing soil. This creates a nutrient-rich environment for your seedlings or transplants to thrive in.
For Container Gardens
Blend compost with your regular potting mix at a ratio of 30% compost to 70% potting mix. This improves drainage and water retention and provides sustained nourishment for your potted plants.
How to Compost at Home?
Find a Bin
If you are preparing Compost at home, find a bin that you can use to add material. You can also buy compost bags that are readily available on the market.
Once you have a container, drill some holes for air, then add layers of dry material at the bottom.
Add Greens
In the following, add Greens (nitrogen-rich), including food scraps like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and tea bags. Browns (carbon-rich) include shredded leaves, cardboard, and twigs. Aim for a 2:1 ratio of greens to browns.
Layer It Up
Alternate layers of greens and browns, adding water to keep the mix moist but not soggy.
The next step is to turn your compost pile every week or two. This aerates the mixture and speeds up decomposition.
Depending on your climate and materials, the composting process can take a few weeks to several months. Be patient, and within this timeframe, to get nutritional Compost.
Summary:
Composting is a simple process suitable for anyone, but for those who prefer not to handle it themselves, organic compost, like mushroom compost, is readily available at the market. For a reliable source nearby, consider visiting us at Blackwoodlfs, where we offer various compost options and other landscape products.