Composting Basics
In Your Garden
All organic matter eventually decomposes. Composting speeds the process by providing an ideal environment for bacteria and other decomposing microorganisms. The final product, humus or compost, looks and feels like fertile garden soil. This dark, crumbly, earthy smelling stuff works wonders on all kinds of soil and provides vital nutrients to help plants grow and look better. Decomposing organisms consist of bacteria, fungi, and larger organisms such as worms, sow bugs, nematodes, and numerous others.
Decomposing organisms need four key elements to thrive: nitrogen, carbon, moisture, and oxygen. For best results, mix materials high in nitrogen (such as clover, fresh grass clippings, and livestock manure) and those high in carbon (such as dried leaves and twigs). If there is not a good supply of nitrogen-rich material, a handful of general lawn fertilizer will help the nitrogen-carbon ratio.
…
Click Here to read the rest of this great article on Gardening
***
Latest Gardening News …
-
Lost On The Garden Path? Four Design Rules To Go By
Good landscape design ideas can be subtle, bold or abstract. A professional designer can offer suggestions, but only homeowners know what will be interesting and comfortable for them.
-
Squirrel Proofing Your Bird Feeder
Having a bird feeder is a great addition to almost any backyard, especially because of the beautiful birds that it can attract. The only downside to having a bird feeder is that other animals like birdseed…
-
Meet Our Experts
Here is the public-appearance schedule Nov. 15-22 for members of our garden writing team.
-
Seedlings To Spare? Time To Share
At the end of spring planting season I often think of the poem by Louise Bogan titled "Women," which begins, "Women have no wilderness in them, /They are provident instead." This comes…
