Composting

Composting Related Information:

Composting is the break down of organic material. This breakdown takes place through the use of large quantities of bacteria and fungi, and plenty of moisture, nourishment and oxygen are required in order for this process to occur efficiently and quickly. Composting is a cost-effective and very efficient way to improve the fertility and texture of the soil in your garden, which will in turn produce far healthier plants and vegetation. Composting enables you to recycle garden waste and kitchen scraps, using them to improve your garden and plants rather than wasting it as rubbish.

Compost is made up of two different types of materials, and these are known collectively as green material and brown material. Green materials are those that are packed with nitrogen, such as weeds, raw vegetables and fruits, and grass clippings. You should ensure that the weeds and grass used as green materials have not been previously treated with weed-killers and insecticides. You should also ensure that any raw vegetables and fruit used are covered in soil to keep away flies and insects, and to reduce any unnecessary odour.

The brown materials used in composting are those that contain high levels of carbon, such as sawdust, shredded paper and straw. In fact, most untreated organic matter can be used in the process of composting, and this matter will partly decay and breakdown during the process of composting, and then will continue to decay and breakdown once it has been used, providing valuable food and nourishment to the soil and plants in your garden.

It is a good idea to get a compost bin and container, which are widely available at garden stores. This can be used to layer your green and brown materials and to turn your compost, as well as keeping your compost heap out of harms way. Many people also make a compost heap in the garden, which can make it easier to turn the compost and will also allow access to earthworm, which can hemp with the breakdown process. However, this is probably better for those with large gardens who can create a compost heap out of the way, rather than those with smaller gardens where the heap will take up a good proportion of the garden and can look a little messy.

When layering your brown and green materials in your compost bin or heap, you need to ensure that you have the right mix of materials. Generally, you should go for five centimetres of brown material for every ten centimetres of green material used. Keep laying your material in layers. It is a good idea to chop up the materials as much as possible, as this can help to speed up the composting process.

Your compost will also need to be kept moist, but not soggy or runny. You will need to turn the compost on a regular basis to ensure that oxygen is flowing through the pile. However, an alternative to this is to use a pipe with holes and stick it in to the middle of the heap to allow oxygen in.

Your finished product should be rich and crumbly compost that will help to completely nourish and improve your garden soil, producing plants and vegetation of a highly improved quality and standard. Composting is both inexpensive, and if done correctly if very effective.