Why Compost is a Gardeners Delight

When your garden is finished, I hope it will be more beautiful that you anticipated, require less care than you expected, and have cost only a little more than you had planned. – Thomas D. Church

Isn’t it amazing that all that waste food we can’t or don’t want in the kitchen is such a good food source for the plants in our garden?

What makes it better is that we can grow vegetables in our gardens, cook and eat them, and whatever we don’t use goes back into the garden to make the next lot of vegetables grow better and healthier than ever.

Compost not only helps to feed your plants by improving the soil quality, but it can also control diseases in the garden.

You can create compost simply by throwing all your waste on a pile and waiting for it to rot. However, this can take quite a long time if the compost pile is large.

The rotting process is aided by keeping the heap moist, which might require watering in hot climates.

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The Different Types Of Compost

Composting is an environmentally-friendly way to recycle organic material and reduce waste. There are various kinds of composting methods, each with unique benefits.

Here are some types you might consider:

1. Backyard Composting: This method involves a simple heap or a compost bin where kitchen waste like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, yard waste like grass clippings, dried leaves, small branches, and other organic materials are added in layers.
2. Vermiculture (Worm Composting): This method employs red wigglers or other composting worms to eat the organic waste. The worms’ excreta makes nutrient-rich compost known as worm castings.
3. Bokashi Composting: An efficient anaerobic process that uses a specific group of microorganisms to ferment kitchen waste into a valuable soil conditioner.
4. Trench Composting: A method that involves digging a hole or trench in the ground and filling it with organic matter. Over time these materials decompose directly into the soil enriching it for future plants.
5. Grasscycling: Leaving grass clippings on your lawn after mowing instead of bagging them up for disposal. This allows nutrients from the clippings to return back into the soil.
6. Hot/Thermal Composting: In this method high temperatures are achieved to speed up decomposition and destroy pathogens and weed seeds in the composting material.
7. Sheet Mulching/Lasagna Gardening: Involves layering green (nitrogen-based) and brown (carbon-based) materials directly onto garden beds without any turning or layer maintenance.
8. Green Cone/Digesters: A closed system where food scraps are composted directly into the soil underground through digestion within a solar-heated cone-shaped unit buried in the ground.
9. Wood Ash Composting: Addition of wood ashes as they provide potassium – a vital nutrient for plant growth.

Remember to balance your ‘greens’ (materials rich in nitrogen like vegetable scraps) with your ‘browns’ (materials rich in carbon like dried leaves), and ensure enough moisture and air circulation for best results.

The compost in an enclosed container can help retain the heat, which will speed up the process.

It is possible to buy specific containers made for fast composting, and apart from the fact that they will keep your yard looking tidier, you will get the benefits of using the compost sooner, and there will be fewer ‘bad smells’ in your garden.

Compost Containers

When making compost, you need a dedicated container supporting decomposition.

Here are some options:

1. Compost Bins: A compost bin is a simple container with an open bottom placed directly on the soil. It can be made of plastic, metal, or wood and has a lid to regulate moisture and temperature.
   • Pros: Affordable, easy to assemble and use.
   • Cons: It may attract pests if improperly maintained, causing a slower composting process.
2. Tumblers: These are barrel-like containers that stand on frames. You add your compost materials and give it a turn every few days to speed up the decomposition.
   • Pros: Faster composting time due to easy turning mechanism, keeps pests away.
   • Cons: More expensive than bins, smaller capacity.
3. Worm Bins (Vermiculture): This method involves using worms to consume organic waste and produce worm castings – a rich soil conditioner. The bin has trays for the worms and waste.
   • Pros: Efficient consumption of kitchen scraps, produces nutrient-rich worm castings.
   • Cons: Requires careful maintenance of conditions (moisture, pH); worms can die if not taken care of.
4. Green Cone Digesters: These are partially buried in the ground allowing waste material to be digested and decomposed by micro-organisms at or below ground level.
   • Pros: Easy disposal method for kitchen scraps, including meat and dairy products.
   • Cons: Can only be used for food scraps and requires well-drained soil location.

Remember to place your container in a shaded area out of direct sunlight for optimal results.

Always maintain the right balance of green (e.g., vegetable scraps) and brown materials (e.g., dry leaves) in your compost pile, regardless of the type of container you choose.

Contained composts are also much better at keeping vermin out, which can become quite a problem with uncovered waste on your property.

Some premium compost containers can be rotated, giving you access to the compost at the bottom of the container, which is ready for use without digging through the fresh waste at the top.

This convenience will ensure you have quality compost that you can use as soon as it is ready rather than waiting months for the contents to rot.

Buying Commercial Gardening Compost: What To Look For

When buying commercial gardening compost, you’ll want to consider several factors to ensure you get the best plant product.

Here are some key aspects to look at:

1. Organic Materials: The best compost is made from organic materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and leaves. Look for a product that lists these as ingredients.
2. Nutrient Content: The primary purpose of using compost is to enrich the soil with nutrients. Check the nutrient content on the bag— good compost should be high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
3. pH Level: Most plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral pH levels (6-7). Look for compost that falls within this range.
4. Texture: High-quality compost will have a crumbly texture, much like good garden soil. Avoid products that are too wet or too dry.
5. Smell: Good compost should smell earthy — if it has a foul odor, it’s likely not fully decomposed or contains undesirable ingredients.
6. Certifications: If possible, choose certified organic compost or one that meets PAS 100 standards (a British standard specification for composted materials).
7. Price and Brand Reviews: Price can often indicate quality, but it’s also essential to research brands and read reviews before purchasing.

Remember: the best choice depends on what you plan to use the compost for – different plants have different needs!