One common misconception regarding composting at home is that it can be too complicated, messy, and smelly. While these are true, it’s only so if you compost incorrectly. The best way to compost is to layer organic materials and a bit of soil. With this mixture, you can do the following:
*Fertilize your garden
*Top dress your lawn
*Feed vegetables
If you are considering composting, here is a list of items that can be safely included:
*Fruit/vegetable scraps
*Coffee grounds
*Eggshells
*Grass/plant clippings
*Dry leaves
*Wood/bark chips that are finely chopped
*Shredded newspaper
*Straw
*Sawdust (untreated wood only)
Alternatively, here is a list of items that you should never compost:
*Anything fatty like meat, oil, or grease
*Plant materials that are diseased
*Sawdust/chips from wood that has been pressure-treated
*Dog/cat waste
*Weeds that end up going to seed
*Dairy products
To begin composting, wait until you have obtained enough materials to allow you to make a three-foot deep pile. Combine all of your wet, green items with all of your dry, brown items. Next, gently sprinkle water over the pile on a regular basis so that is has a feeling similar to a damp sponge. Too much water can cause the pile to become waterlogged, so be careful. When the growing season comes along, turn the pile once a week using a garden fork so that it stays cool.
Once the compost pile no longer gives off any heat and becomes crumbly, dry, and brown, this means that you can use it as fertilizer. Only add about four to six inches of compost to your flower/garden bed and pots at the start of each planting season.
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