What is composting?
Composting is the simple method of breaking down organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The result, called compost, can be used to significantly enhance the quality of your garden soil. Composting is an excellent means to reduce waste, save money on fertilizer, and help the environment.
What can be composted?
Essentially any organic material can be composted, but certainly, quite a few items break down more directly than others. Food scraps including fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells are all great candidates for composting. Yard waste for example leaves, grass clippings, and twigs can also be composted.
How to start composting
If you’re well-disposed and ready to start composting, here are the steps you can take:
- Find a designated place for your compost bin. This can be a wonderful spot for your container if you have a small balcony or patio. Just completely make sure it is in a sunny location so the ingredients will break down fine.
- Decide on the applicable type of bin. There are widely varying compost bins available, so research to pick out the one that best suits your needs. Some containers are set for indoor use, while others are more appropriate for outdoor spaces.
- Gather your compostable materials. Practically all kitchen scraps can be composted, including fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells. You can, in like manner, add yard waste, for example, leaves and grass clippings to your bin.
- Add water to the bin wherever applicable. The ingredients in your bin need to be moist to break down completely, so always make certain to add water if the bin starts to look dry.
- Turn the contents of the bin quite often. This will help oxygenate the materials and make haste the composting process.
- When the compost is ready, it should be dark and crumbly. It can then be thoroughly added to your garden or used as mulch around your plants.
How to use compost
Compost can be used in many different ways. Here are some ideas:
- Use it as a soil amendment in a garden or planter. Compost can be mixed into the soil to augment drainage and aeration. It can particularly help retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil.
- Use it as mulch. Spread a layer of compost around your plants to help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
- Use it as a fertilizer. Compost can be used to fertilize your plants. Completely mix it into the soil around the base of the plant.
- Use it to put together a potting mix. Compost can be consolidated with other ingredients such as perlite or vermiculite, to effectively create a potting mix for your indoor plants.
- Use it to form compost tea. This liquid fertilizer can be formulated by steeping compost in water for several days. It can then be put to use to fertilize your plants or to water seedlings.
Composting is indeed one of the best things to slash down your environmental impact and help your garden or houseplants flourish and grow magnificently. By doing these very easy tips, you can promptly compost at home, even if you’re renting.
Are you in the market for a new rental home – certainly one with more outdoor space for composting and applying your green thumb? In this case, talk to one of our Morrisville property managers today or view our listings online.