Creating A Compost In Your Garden

Cover crops like green manure crops are plants grown to cover the soil during idle periods when the land would otherwise be barren. Many gardeners' plant cover crops in autumn for winter cover, but some gardeners also use cover crops as part of a summer rotation. When cover crops are returned to the soil, they supply plant nutrients and organic matter.

Many types of cover crops offer a secondary benefit, not only are you adding organic matter, but cover crops attract beneficial insects to the garden as well.

Using a cover crop:

Decide on a cover crop or crops that suit your garden's needs Cover crops are available in bulk from most organic seed suppliers. Scatter small seeds or hand place large seeds and keep them watered (some cover crops are very fast growing and others will take longer especially if they are planted in the late autumn). Most cover crops are cut down and turned in (or composted) before flowering in order to keep the nutrients in the ground. The nitrogen remains in the soil and later becomes accessible to future crops. Before planting spring vegetables, flowers, etc. wait 2 to 4 weeks to allow all the turned in cover crops to decompose

Compost:

If adding compost is your chosen method to add nutrients to the soil, then there is a wide range of materials you can use. Composted manure, homemade compost, municipal compost, sawdust composted with manure -- they're all good products. If you work in compost in spring, it will improve the soil structure just as the season is beginning.

It's important to use only completely decomposed compost as unfinished substances can cause problems as described above. Many people are unsure of the amount of compost that they should add, but even a small amount is better than none, every little bit helps. The general rule of thumb is to add about a third to two parts of soil at any one time. I am sure that everyone is aware of the benefits of composted plant waste. Rich in all the necessary ingredients including micronutrients and micro organisms, it is one of the best if not the best products we can use on our soil. Whether it is a simple worm bin or specially built container, anyone who is keen to grow his or her own food must have a compost source.

Not only will it be a place to dispose of the grass cuttings but you can add lots of other waste too:

Leaves, Clippings, Straw., Sawdust., Shredded branches and twigs., Cut flowers., Comfrey leaves., Tea leaves., Coffee grounds., Egg shells., Banana skins., Fluff from the vacuum cleaner., Manure., Urine., Shredded paper., Vegetable waste

Kelp (a form of sea weed) is an excellent fertilizer. If you live near the coast and can collect it yourself, it is ideal for adding to compost heaps.

Never add kitchen scraps because it will attract vermin. Other ingredients that should not be used are dog or cat manure (their worming treatment will kill off the composting worms); don't use citrus peel either its too acidic for worms and don't use diseased plants it could mean that you run the risk of spreading the disease all around your garden.

To help the compost to rot down an activator should be used. This can be manure, bird droppings, urine or a propriety activator; in dry weather the compost should be watered

Learn about grass types and grass care at the Plants And Flowers site.