|
Most gardeners and landscapers will agree almost
unanimously that the single best thing you can do
for your lawn is to add compost. Good, organic compost
can remedy almost any problem you have with your soil.
If your soil is too acidic, adding compost will help neutralize
it and bring it back to a proper pH level. If your soil is
too alkaline, ditto! Adding compost will help balance the
alkalinity in the soil. If you live in an area with a lot
of heavy clay, adding compost will help loosen and aerate
the soil. If you live in a coastal or southern area with
a lot of sand, adding compost will help bind it together.
Soil lacking nutrients? Add compost to add new life to
overworked soil.
So how do you make compost? It’s easier than you can imagine
and cheaper than anything else you will do. How cheap? How
about free! All composting is, is the natural decomposition
of organic matter. Walk through a dense forest and take a
deep handful of soil from under your feet. Notice how black
and rich it is. It didn’t get that way from fertilizers or
manure. It got that way from all the decomposing organic
matter. A forest takes care of itself by recycling. It
recycles every leaf, branch, berry, and bush. It does this
quite simply. All the organic and living matter in the
forest decomposes into compost which feeds the existing
plants (and some animals!).
In the forest, when leaves fall from the trees, they all
gather on the forest floor. In storms, branches may fall,
as well as entire trees. This creates layers of organic
matter on the forest floor. Eventually it rains adding fuel
to the mixture. The rain aids the microbes that begin to
eat the organic matter, eventually turning it into the rich,
thick carpet you see on the forest floor. This compost feeds
the living trees and other plants providing nutrients that
rival the best fertilizers.
You can emulate the forest by creating your own compost. Avoid
store bought compost, especially those made from manure.
There’s nothing natural about spreading rotted and decomposed
cow feces on your lawn or garden. It’s actually pretty gross!
Especially considering the number of chemicals and steroids
that are given to cattle and cows in the United States. If
you must purchase or acquire compost from somewhere else,
call your local municipal office. Many municipalities have
their own composting facilities and they give away the
compost to their residents for free! In our township, for
example, all the leaves that are gathered in the fall from
the local streets, are mulched up and composted in a huge
field. In a year or two, once the leaves have thoroughly
composted, we are permitted to haul away as much compost
as we like! The only catch is that we must load it ourselves,
but this is a small price to pay for free, organic mulch.
About The Author
Dean Novosat is an avid gardener and landscaper.
He has transformed many boring yards into beautiful
landscapes. He has several websites including
http://www.the-garden-doctor.com and http://www.dr-landscape.com.
|
