Compost Gardening Basics and Top Rated Tips

Composting is one one the best things you can do for your garden. Compost helps to add nutrients to the soil that your plants need for growth and for overall health. The best thing about a kitchen compost bucket is that you can make it yourself, for free. After you build your compost bin you will simply use garbage that you would have otherwise just thrown out to create a compost full of wonderful nutrients to feed your plants and enrich the soil.

The Basics of Creating Soil Compost

Compost is simply a mixture of organic materials. It starts with some yard waste, like leaves and twigs. You then add in plant based food scraps to complete the mix. The mixture needs to sit so everything can break down. It also will needs stirred or mixed. This is not really labor intensive. You simple need to turn the mixture with a pitch fork every few days to get it mixed up or whenever you add something to the pile you can mix it in. You also need to add moisture from time to time when the pile gets dry. The rest is handled naturally as everything breaks down and creates a rich black compost.

You should keep your compost in a bin, buying a compost bin tumbler would be a smart move. This will help keep animals out of it and it will also help keep it neat and tidy. Compost can get stinky, too, so keeping it in a covered bin will just make it more tolerable.

Using your Compost

Once your compost is ready you can put it to use. When you first start planting in the Spring you will want to work the compost into the soil. This will give your garden a nice base of rich soil that is packed with nutrients. Your plants will have a very healthy start, which will only help ensure they have a great growing season.

You can also use compost to feed your plants throughout the season. It can be used around trees or established garden areas, too. It serves as a great mulch that will seep the nutrients down into the soil, feeding and nourishing your plants.

Some Composting Tips

Here are some final tips that will help make it easier for you to get used to using compost in your gardening.

- Keep your soil composter and your garden close together. This will make it easier for you, saving you time and energy when you are adding compost tot he garden.

- Use what you have at your home. There is not usually a need to go buy items for your compost. You can usually find enough yard waste and food scraps at your home without having to buy anything. Even if you need more, consider asking neighbors or friends if they want to contribute.

- Make it easy for nature to help. Bugs are a great help in compost bins. Make sure your bin is in a shaded area so bugs will be more likely to find their way there. If you find earthworms when digging your garden just drop them in the bin.