During the year, a lot of plant waste is collected on the plot, which we can successfully allocate tocompostThanks to composting, we will avoid throwing or burning plant residues and we will obtain a very valuable fertilizer almost for free , enriching the soil with organic matter. Seehow to compostand what garden waste is suitable for composting, what is the differencecomposting on a pilefromcomposting in a composterwhen it is known that the compost is matured and ready, and what isthe use of compostin the garden.
Compost is a rich source of organic matter and at the same time the cheapest material for soil fertilization, because we can obtain it ourselves from plant residues.
What is compost?
Compostthat we use in our gardens is an organic fertilizer made mainly from plant waste. It is formed as a result of the aerobic decomposition of plant residues by microorganisms, i.e. in the process of composting in compost heaps or composters. Compost used in the garden enriches the soil with humus, makes the soil airy and plump. It is a rich source of organic matter and at the same time the cheapest material for soil fertilization. Unlike mineral fertilizers and manure, compost does not pose a risk of over-fertilization or environmental pollution. The use of compost is recommended in amateur crops on plots, in home gardens and in ecological crops.
Composting methods, or how to make compost
When deciding to produce our own compost on a plot, we have two basic methods to choose from:
1) composting in a heap,
2) composting in a composter.
Composting in a pileis a bit simpler and does not force us to build or buy a composter, thanks to which we additionally reduce the costs associated with obtaining fertilizer material.
On the other hand, obtainingcompost from the piletakes quite a long time (usually about 1.5 years), and the pile itself does not look aesthetically pleasing, especially in a small home garden. Therefore, it is worth making a wooden composter yourself or buying a ready-made compost container made of plastic.
The advantages of compostersare greater aesthetics, keeping the compost in an orderly form and protection against wind and drying out by rays sunny. The so-called thermocomposters.Most often made of plastic, they ensure thermal insulation of the compost obtained through thick walls, while the access of air to the heap is possible through a system of air slots or holes. The use of a thermo-composter can shorten the compost production time by up to 70%.
Composting in a pile
Establishing a compost heapcan basically take place from spring to autumn, as soon as the temperature is positive. To set up the prism, choose a place that is sheltered from the wind and shaded.
What can be composted?
The materials we can use are: he althy plant residues, weeds without seeds, leaves and wood ash. We can also use food leftovers from our home (fruit and vegetable peelings, tea leaves). It is also good to add somecompostfrom last year to the pile, which will act as an activator. It is also possible to produce homogeneous compost, e.g.from the leaves themselves, but the more diverse the material we use, the more valuable the compost will be.
Remember!For the compost to be as valuable as possible, about 70 to 80% of its components should be organic waste, about 10 to 20% of the mixture is filled with organic and mineral fertilizers, and the remaining few to 10% should be land.
Regardless of whether we willcompost in a pileor in a composter, we should apply the same principles of forming individual layers of material intended for composting.
How to lay compost layers?In the first phase, place a 20 cm layer of broken branches and twigs on the bottom, the thickest of which are placed on the bottom - it is the so-called drainage layer. Then we create a layer that absorbs the minerals washed away by the water from the upper layers of the heap - here we use peat, garden soil, straw or partially decomposed last year's compost.Then we put the next layers of material, which we translate with garden soil or finely crushed clay. The height of the prism should not exceed 1.5 meters. Cover the heap with earth or peat, and form a depression on top of it, thanks to which the rainwater will penetrate into the heap.
Composting on a pile
Mistakes made when composting!
When deciding to produce compost for use in your own garden, you should avoid making a few mistakes, such as:
- adding plant remains to the compost heap that were infected by diseases (they may be a source of infection in the following years),
- adding calcium compounds (calcium accelerates the decomposition of organic matter, but unfortunately also deprives it of much-needed nitrogen),
- placing compost in pits or concrete tanks (air access restriction not recommended),
- adding material that is insufficiently fragmented and stacking it too thick (which also restricts air access).
If we avoid these mistakes, the compost preparation process will run more efficiently, the compost will not emit an unpleasant odor, and the obtained organic fertilizer will be more valuable.
Compost maturation
For proper decomposition processes to take place in the compost (we say then that the compost matures), it is necessaryto process the compost heapapproximately every 2 months. The processing consists in moving the layers of the compost (i.e. simply digging, so that the top layers are on the bottom and the bottom layers are on top of the pile), thanks to which we create favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms accelerating the decomposition.
How to speed up composting?To accelerate decomposition processes and shorten the time needed to obtain a full-value compost, we can also soak the pile with a solution of mature compost (distributed in water with a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer), introduce to the pile biodynamic preparations made of herbs such as yarrow, chamomile, nettle, dandelion, valerian or simply throw earthworms collected on the plot into the pile.Another easy way is to throw comfrey leaves into the compost. The most demanding can use special biopreparations to improve the properties of the compost heap and accelerate its decomposition, such as, for example, Active Composter by Target.
What to do when the compost smells bad?
When processing compost, it is worth paying attention to the smell that comes out. If the smell of ammonia comes out, it means that the compost contains too much nitrogen, if the smell of rotten eggs comes out - we should ensure better aeration of the compost material. We should also make sure that the compost heap is constantly moist - if we take the sample in the palm of your hand, after squeezing it, drops of water should remain between your fingers, but the water should not leak excessively.
If we do not have a composter, we cover the pile with insulation material for the winter period. This is important because during decomposition the temperature of the pile rises, which accelerates the decomposition of organic matter and allows the destruction of weed seeds and some pathogens.In order to achieve the required temperature, the volume of the pile should not be less than 1m³, preferably 2m³. Therefore, covering the pile for the winter allows to maintain a more favorable temperature for the decomposition processes also in this period.
Composting in a composter
As mentioned before, despite the increased workload, having a composter brings significant benefits. In order for the composter to fulfill its role, it should enable good ventilation of the compost mass layers, drainage of excess moisture, easy wetting of the material, and access to the material for processing (the possibility of opening and taking the container apart).Plastic composters , which we can buy in stores, enable good insulation of the compost material, thanks to which the activity of compost-decomposing bacteria is also possible during cold weather, which significantly speeds up the time of composting. Currently, there is a large selection of plastic composters on the market, which look quite aesthetic, are easy to install, and for the most demanding enthusiasts of eco-gardening - they are made of 100% recyclable materials.
Traditional wooden composter in the allotment garden. The composter should be placed in a sheltered and shaded place.
However, if the plastic composter seems too expensive to us or we think that it looks unnatural on the plot, we can make a box of wooden elements by ourselves.
How to do it yourself to build a composter?
A simple composter can be made from poles approximately 7 cm thick. The poles should be debarked and impregnated. First, dig four corner pieces into the ground, and then alternate horizontal beams as the space is filled. Therefore, for the construction of such a composter we do not use anything other than wood and it is completely demountable, which allows easy processing of the compost. Unfortunately, after processing the composter, we have to rebuild the composter.If we want to make a more permanent structure, e.g. from nails nailed boards, remember to keep the possibility of unfolding or at least opening the cover and one of the side walls of the composter in order to remake the pile.
The processcompost maturationusually takes about 18 months. However, if we provide good conditions for the decomposition of matter and apply treatments accelerating the decomposition, the fertilizing material can be ready after 9 months or even faster (in a plastic composter, after adding composting accelerators, mature compost can be obtained even after 2 months).Ripe compostis distinguished by its dark brown color, uniform structure (no plant fragments visible) and a pleasant smell of fresh earth. Such compost has already left the compost earthworms, which have already fulfilled their humifying role.
Compost use
Compost is used for fertilizing garden plants, both vegetables, fruit trees and shrubs, as well as ornamental plants, as well as for mulching the soil under the plants. It can be used as a substrate component for growing vegetables, bedding and potted flowers.
Compost is best appliedin the fall. If it is fully ripe, dig it into the soil to a depth of about 30 cm. However, if the compost is not fully mature yet, we leave it on the surface of the soil for the winter and dig it in only in spring.Fully ripe compostcan also be used in the spring without fear.
Remember that regularcompostpreserves the fertile, humus layer of the soil , which is priceless humus.
