With spring right around the corner and COVID still keeping many of us in our homes, the future is looking bright for novice and veteran gardeners alike. The hobby is seeing a renewed sense of support for everyone looking to get some tactile action back into their everyday lives.
This means that there is a lot of interest in how best to plan, build, maintain and tend to vegetable gardens, including the best ways to make plants grow healthy and resilient. While everyone is familiar with using fertilizer products to boost growth, many overlook the natural fertilizer that is already so readily available, which is compost of course!
What is Compost?
Compost is decomposed organic material. It can contain just about any natural ingredient, from banana peels to livestock manure and so much more!
Why Do People Use Compost in Their Gardens?
Compost is nutrient-rich because it is made from dead organic material. These nutrients are essential for plant growth, especially hydrogen. Compost added to the garden boosts the availability of these nutrients and can help make land more fertile and hospitable for vegetables and plants.
When to Use Compost
Our aged compost is best applied to existing beds early in the spring. Doing this will help renew the nutrients in the soil that were depleted in the previous growing season. This activity is best done in the early spring. Till in this compost at about 2” depth, at a ratio of 5:1 with soil, for best results.
How to Make Your Own Compost
Once you see the beneficial effects of compost, you will likely be interested in sourcing your own. While we always recommend using our aged compost, it can be rewarding to make small amounts of compost at your own home, and it is relatively easy to do.
Simply find a strong and durable container that you can leave outside, and add any organic refuse you have, from vegetable and fruit peels to old bread and mouldy food. You can even throw in those puppy materials, like cardboard, newspaper and wood shavings/sawdust. Don’t add meats, fats, dairy or any diseased plants though, as these can introduce bad bacteria that will spoil your composting efforts.
Wait until the material breaks down sufficiently and then add it to your garden. It’s that simple. If you want to make your composting even more effective, however, you can also add worms to the pile. They’ll help decompose the organic matter faster, and give you a more consistent end result.
For all your bulk compost needs as well as top-quality loam and garden soil mixes, contact Soil Kings today!
