Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
BUILDING A COMPOST PILE, 04/11/97
Does composting sound like a mystical science? Or does it conjure images of a messy, unpleasant smelling pile of materials? If so, I beg you to read on for a few short minutes so I can dispel these mistaken notions and explain the many benefits of composting.
First, the benefits. Most of us know that the rich organic matter contained in a handful of compost is good for the soil. Indeed, my wife, a native of the rich soils of Iowa, was mystified by the red stuff we call soil upon her arrival in North Carolina. And whether your gardens or flower beds are full of clay or sand, adding compost is almost guaranteed to help. Of course, compost can be purchased, but why not produce your own free supply?
In sandy soils, mixing compost into the soil helps to hold water in the soil. And in clay soils which have drainage problems, compost will improve water flow through the soil. Compost also contains nutrients which can be used by plants.
Compost also makes an excellent and attractive mulch, keeping down weeds, and holding moisture in the soil.
Are you hooked? Well, making compost really is a simple process. Basically it consists of building a bin, filling the bin with the proper materials, and maintenance.
Compost bins range from simple and cheap to elaborate and expensive. I favor the former, and the one in the diagram is an excellent choice. Made from a short length of wire fencing, it is lightweight, easy to build, and portable.
Four ingredients are needed for a compost pile: air, microorganisms, organic material, and water. Mother nature supplies the first two, so we only need to concern ourselves with organic material and water.
Many different things can be used to supply the organic material, including manures, plant cuttings, sawdust, and even shredded newspaper (though I'm sure you will want to save this one). But probably the most abundant are grass clippings and leaves, and in fact, you can make a compost pile out of only these two ingredients.
Simply add alternating layers of the ingredients until you have a 4 foot high pile. Add water to each layer as you build it. The pile will need to be at least 4 feet high and 4 feet wide for best results.
After 3 or 4 weeks, turn the compost pile and make sure it is still moist (but not saturated). If you use the bin illustrated here, you can simply remove the wire from around the pile, place it next to the pile, then turn the pile into the wire bin. Some folks prefer a three-bin model so they can have two different stages of compost at all times, providing a more constant supply.
Then simply continue turning the pile every so two to four weeks. The more often it is turned, the more quickly it will decompose. Turning also allows air to enter the inside of the pile. If the compost pile is too wet, then air is excluded from the pile, and it may begin to smell. Regular turning will prevent this.
The compost is ready to use when the material is fully decomposed. At this stage it will be a fine, black material, almost like soil. It can then be mixed into the soil or used as a mulch.
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