Knowing When Compost Is Ready
Look for a stable, earthy, crumbly material rather than using compost solely because a certain number of months has passed.
THE GARDEN JOURNAL
The garden journal.
Good growing starts with a little understanding. Find practical ideas for your plants, your patch and your everyday home.
Balancing Browns and Greens in Compost
Dry leaves create useful structure between wet kitchen plant scraps and fresh clippings. Store a clean supply where it remains available when the wet ingredients arrive.
Keeping a Compost Heap Moist
Rain falling on the top does not prove that moisture reached the center. Open a small section and inspect the actual material.
Adding Air to a Dense Compost Heap
Aeration is easier when the material has a mixture of sizes. Long unbroken stems can leave large voids while dense grass mats exclude air altogether.
A Simple Cold Compost System
A cold heap is useful precisely because it can work slowly with limited intervention. Match expectations to that process.
Managing Grass Clippings in Compost
Grass clippings arrive in large wet batches after mowing, which can exceed the capacity of a small compost bin.
Making Leaf Mold for Garden Use
Leaf mold and mixed garden compost are different materials. Clean leaves can break down through a slow fungal dominated process without being combined into a hot mixed heap.
Choosing a Compost Bin Location
The best bin position includes the route used in bad weather. A bin that can only be reached across a slippery muddy strip is unlikely to receive careful balanced additions.
Stopping a Compost Bin From Drying Out
When a heap is dry throughout, a cover can preserve moisture after the material has been rewetted. Covering a dry heap without adjusting the interior simply preserves dryness.
Preventing Soggy Compost After Rain
The source of excess water may be the ground under the bin rather than rain through the lid. Check the base after a wet period before repeatedly adding more dry material.
Sifting Compost Without Wasting Coarse Pieces
Choose a sieve mesh for the intended use rather than aiming for the finest possible compost. A surface dressing around established plants can tolerate more texture than a delicate propagation medium.
Buying Bagged Compost Thoughtfully
Product names differ between regions, making the stated purpose more reliable than the word compost alone.
Top Dressing Established Garden Beds
Top dressing should leave the plant itself recognizable. A growing crown or root flare should not disappear under repeated annual layers.
Mulching a Vegetable Bed
Mulch changes how the surface looks and dries, so watering decisions need to include the soil underneath.
Using Straw Around Garden Crops
Straw and hay are not interchangeable labels. Hay can contain many mature seeds, while clean straw is more often used as a low seed mulch.
Using Wood Chips on Paths
Wood chips make a useful clear boundary when paths and beds have distinct roles. Renew worn walking areas without continually spilling fresh chips into a seed row.
Keeping Mulch Away From Tree Trunks
The root flare is the widening area where a tree trunk meets its main roots. It provides a useful reference when judging mulch depth.
Building a Raised Bed Soil Mix
The sides of a raised bed do not themselves provide drainage. Water still needs a suitable route through the filled material and the ground below.