Compost
What You Need To Know
Organic gardeners understand the soil process works by1) feeding the soil micro-organisms that
2) break down soil components into useable forms that
3) feed plants for optimum healthy growth. (chemical gardeners simply plug chemical products into the soil that make plants grow)
The important difference is that plants will grow with chemical fertilizers but they are genetically programmed to grow better with the use of compost.
Plants grown this way are healthier, produce better flowers and have healthier plants or seeds (the things we eat) than those grown with artificial inputs.
This is the same for ornamental flowers (more disease and insect resistant) as well as vegetables and other food-producing plants such as grains and fruits.
So here’s a few of the common question and the answers:
Store Bought - or Your Own ?
Yes. The material you make yourself is likely going to be healthier and a better balanced. Compost contains both fungi and bacteria (both good guys) and what you make at home has a better chance of containing both.
The best place to do this is under a tree in your own backyard. The soil under a tree has a complete range of local bacteria and fungi that your own garden soil will use.
Some folks like to use a compost accelerator and here's a quick review of these. Having said that, if you have to make a choice between buying or not using any – I’d buy it.
What's Better - Sheep or Cow Manure?
Hmm, well let me put it this way. The only difference between the two bags is the picture on the front of the bag. All manure in the bags is cattle manure from feedlots.
And while purchased bagged manure is acceptable - home made compost is far better.
I see that this bagged compost only has a fertilizer rating of 1-1-1. Isn’t that too low to grow good crops?
Well, that depends. It depends on whether you’re following the directions of chemical gardeners who only know about numbers or whether you’re employing the amazing productivity of soil bacteria.
Once your soil is alive, then compost is all you’ll need for your garden to get bountiful crops. If your soil is dead, then you measure fertility the way the chemical gardeners do. It is far better to have your soil alive though.
Organic fertilizer has other sources - even though compost is the best. Here are some alternatives.
How Long to Bring Soil Alive?
Usually a soil will recover and go into full productivity in three years using only organic inputs and no chemical fertilizers (this can vary depending on soil type). You can shorten this by adding larger amounts. The more you add, the faster the soil micro-organisms will populate your soil – and the faster that soil will become healthier with a large enough population of micro-organisms to feed your garden plants. You can also shorten the time by eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers that unbalance the soil chemistry and herbicide/fungicides that unbalance other parts of the soil environment.
You can further shorten the time it takes by applying compost tea to your lawn and gardens.
How Much Do I Need To Use?
That’s a tough question. It really depends on the type of soil you have (sand or clay for example) and how badly it has been abused (corn fields are essentially dead from high nitrogen levels – lawns are struggling)
The old time Long Island gardeners used to add between two and four pounds of composted manure to each square foot of garden every year. That’s about one half of an inch every year. If you add a quarter to half inch deep per square foot to your garden soil, that will likely be a good way to start.
If you only have small amounts, then making compost tea is almost a must for your gardening efforts.
I Don't Have That Much
Few people do in today’s gardening world of eliminating all waste products from gardens (taking leaves to the dump etc). That is why compost tea is almost as good a starting point. Tea turns it into a liquid source of micro-organisms. You can take a minimal amount of compost, turn it into tea and spray or irrigate your land with this.
Feeding MicroOrganisms
Once you’ve added micro-organisms, you have to be prepared to give them something to eat. And organic matter is the food of choice.
Unless those who garden with chemicals have been adding large amounts of organic matter every year, their soil is essentially barren.
Our job is to get that organic matter to your soil micro-organisms so they can restore the health and life in your garden. In my previous large garden, I used straw as a thick mulch and let it degrade. The soil organisms loved this stuff and would make a four-inch thick layer almost totally disappear within three years.
In my current small garden, I use leaves. Last fall, I covered the entire garden with three inches of leaves. A dose of compost tea watered onto the garden soil brings this sandy soil to life and the flowers thrive. I know several gardeners who feed their gardens – both flowers and vegetables – almost exclusively with leaves now. The soils are alive and the objective is to feed the soil micro-organisms that will produce healthier plants (and corn plants higher than your eye).
Compost Tea
The research on compost tea is increasing as researchers find that the micro-organisms work wonders in the garden.
Sprayed onto leaves, these bacteria and fungi fight off bad guys who make plants sick. That's "if" the right bacteria are in the compost tea.
Sprayed onto soil, they multiply and fight off soil borne problems. And they do it in natural ways that help plants be healthy.
It is not about “fixing” a problem – it is about creating a condition where life is healthier and naturally fights off problems.
Remember that the majority of plant problems are simply Mother Nature trying to reclaim plants and recycle them into food for the next generation of plants.
Making compost tea
Plant diseases mostly attack sick plants.
And a plant that is fed artificially has more symptoms of “sickness” such as plant sugars etc. than a normally healthy plant. Corn fed with chemical fertilizer has higher levels of sugar in the leaves than corn fed with compost.
Given a choice, insects attack the plant with the higher levels of sugar because it tastes better. So, the chemical raised plant is more attractive to bugs. And you wonder why your roses get sick.
Here are some other thoughts on sick plants.
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Does Compost Solve All My Problems?
Well, it won’t make you any better looking, sexier or richer but it will make your garden a whole lot better place. And yes, there are problems with organic gardening but far fewer. Yes, you can control pests naturally.
Yes, you can have great looking lawns only using organic controls.
Yes, your kids and grandkids can play on the lawn without worry and can harvest and eat the vegetables without having to wash them. Yes, your flower gardens can grow larger blossoms. Yes, you’ll lose a few to the bad guys but that’s what life is all about – you win a few and you lose a few. But you’ll lose a lot fewer when you adopt organic gardening techniques and bring your garden to life.
And that’s when you become wiser. And I’m told wise folks become sexier, better looking and richer.
Making Compost
There are two simple systems for making compost.
There's the cold method that is great for small gardens as well as the hot method that is suited for those with larger gardens or lots of organic matter (like leaves in the fall).
Questions and Answers
How thick can I put on my worm castings?
My city compost is available but a local garden center says it is full of weeds and they don't screen it. What do you think?
Got an Compost Problem?
If you have a question about compost then feel free to ask it using this form.
If you have a picture of the problem or situation, feel free to upload it here as well (keep the pic under 100K please for faster uploading)
On some browsers the entry boxes are a little hard to see - name and email boxes are either immediately to the left of the captcha box or right below it (close to the submit button) depending on your browser settings.
See what other gardeners have asked
Click below to see what other gardeners have asked about producing compost
Compost thoughts My neighbor won't use compost, says it can make the soil too acidic. I disagree, told him the plants take what nutrients they need - when they need it ...
composts liquid drippings My husband made me a rotating composter.When I turn it I can drain the liquid off it into a container.I,m wondering how to ue it.Do I need to dilute it ...
spreading compost tea Is it more important to spray the leaves or the soil with the compost tea? I used a sprayer that had once had baking soda and water in it. Was this a mistake?...
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