Compost
This page is the keypage for locating information on composting for all kinds of gardening. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking making the perennial garden bloom all summer or getting that whopping huge fresh tomato – it all starts here.
To start you off – the single most interesting thing I’ve found about applying this material came from a commercial vegetable-production book from the 1800’s. In it, the author described how they applied 2 to 4 pounds of composted material per square foot of their gardens every year to maintain their fantastic yields and make a profit. Contrast that with the attitude many modern gardeners have of treating it as if it were gold and spreading it as thinly as possible. The thicker the better folks.
And that’s the first lesson; you can’t apply too much to modern garden soil.
The second lesson might be that this is quite fashionable right now - and everybody wants to make a buck on it. You'll see some interesting claims for starters and accelerators. Here's my take on compost starter
Speaking of fashionable and saving a buck, here's what I use for my kitchen compost container. Not fancy but it does the job.
To continue this series on low-cost solutions to composting, here's what I use instead of compost thermometers.
If you've been buying mushroom compost for your own garden, you'll really want to read why I don't recommend you use it.
Using a compost spreader is really for large lawns and gardens. Here's why.
And I continue giving practical advice on making compost tea. I really like using this stuff and try to brew up a batch every two weeks during the summer to spice up the garden's performance.
Given I do love a morning cup of coffee, I have far too many grounds to just throw away. It's a good thing that coffee grounds and gardening go together like ham and eggs. Here's the scoop on using coffee grounds.
Worm-compost is easy stuff to make and worms make great pets. Think about it - you don't have to walk them, you don't have to train them, they're quiet, never create a fuss when visitors come, nobody is allergic to them - these are great pets. And they make great worm compost from your daily kitchen garbage.
If you're a do-it-yourselfer (and what gardening soul doesn't have a little of that characteristic lurking in the background?) you'll want to read the instructions for building a compost bin inexpensively and easily. The critical thing is to get the size right.
Compost barrels are easily built and maintained like mine pictured here but they don't make a hot compost.
Once you've built a bin, knowing how to make a compost pile is pretty easy but important to your final success.
If you want to know what you can compost in your garden (and whether it is easy to compost or there's an easier way to handle the material.
Sometimes, you just get lazy in the garden and want a system of gardening that doesn't involve any kind of digging or turning compost or hauling stuff around. Here's an article on No-Dig-Gardens
If you decide to make compost tea, then you might want to read this article before you purchase or make your own compost tea maker I'll tell you some pitfalls to avoid.
Questions and Answers
Can I use a fountain pump instead of an air pump to brew compost tea?Which fertilizer is best?
We have horse manure - when can we use it?
Can I use bagged manure from a garden center?
Got a Question about Compost?
If you have a question about compost, this is a good place to ask it.
Please understand that I get hundreds of questions every week from readers and I simply can't answer them all. I do my best and print quite a few in my free newsletter
Do give me as many details as possible.
What Other Visitors Have Asked About Compost
Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...
Covering the compost pile Can I cover my compost hill (which is about 6 feet from the patio deck) with black plastic. I have been told that it can spontaneously combust and cause ...
mushrooms growing in my composter
should I take out mushrooms that have started growing in my composter
Doug says you obviously don't have a fast or hot compost going there. :-) Take ...
Seaweeds
I live on Miscou Island N.B.we have a lot of Seaweeds
how can I make compost with this
Thanks
Lincoln
Doug says - treat it like any other green matter....
