Compost and Mulch

Compost and mulch are two of a gardener's best friends. It is beneficial for strong and healthy plants and will significantly increase the productivity of your garden. Their long lasting benefits save time and effort in all types of gardens. There are many forms of compost and mulch. Some are organic while others are artificial. What's the Difference between Compost and Mulch? Compost is any kind of decayed, organic plant or animal matter. In the home garden, we think of compost as organic plant matter. It's nutrient rich composition acts as a natural fertilizer for your plants. The act of "composting" is the process where organic plant and animal matter decays as a result of piling it up and allowing it to decay through the natural process of decomposition. This is accomplished over a period of time by means of natural bacteria and often aided by worms, heat ,and water. Compost is literally any organic matter. It can include weeds, grass clippings, hay, seaweed, garden waste, kitchen scraps, tree leaves, or branches to name a few. It can also be animal matter. Animal matter is discouraged, as it has several disadvantages, most notably attracting unwanted garden pests. Mulch on the other hand, is any material placed around plants as a protective covering for the purpose of: Reducing weeds around the plants Increasing or decreasing soil temperature Retaining moisture around the plant Mulches can be organic such as compost, wood chips, grass clippings, or hay to name a few. Or, they could be inorganic such as black plastic newspaper, or even aluminium foil. The benefit of organic is that it also enriches the soil. In-organic mulches can be much more efficient in keeping out weeds. But they are of no benefit to the composition of your garden soil. How to Compost: There is not much you can do wrong long term to the compost pile. Pile up any organic matter and it will decompose over time. If you simply pile it on, it will decompose eventually. What most gardeners want however, is to speed up the composting process and avoid the pitfalls of bad odour and attracting unwanted pests. A well maintained and active compost pile will convert organic material to compost in as little as thirty days. Left to nature, it could take several months or even a year. The byproduct of active decomposition is heat. . A compost pile can actually become so hot that it ignites. This is a not so rare an occurrence, most commonly occurring in large town or industrial composting. The Basics to Good Composting: Select an area to create your pile. Many people opt to close in their pile with fencing or acquire a home composter. Home composters are neat and more aesthetically pleasing than a pile of weeds in the middle of your yard. Add any organic matter from your garden or yard. Also include any vegetable waste from your kitchen, including egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, etc. If possible, alternate layers of green (new) and brown waste. This helps the mixing process, and aids in decomposition. Keep the compost pile moist, but not wet. Turn the pile over from time to time to maximize air circulation to the bacteria and microbes that "eat" and convert your pile into rich compost. Use the compost after it has almost completely turned into soil. It will be rich in nutrients and minerals. Use and enjoy! Some Do's and Don'ts: Do stir the pile to allow air penetration Don't put animal remains or meat and fats from cooking in the pile. While they may be rich in nutrients, they attract unwanted little "critters" Do keep the pile moist Don't put grass clippings too thickly, or they will smell as they decay and decay slower. Chip or shred larger items such a branches and plant stalks if possible. The more area bacteria has to work, the quicker the decomposition. Don't put diseased plants of any kind into the compost pile. They can overwinter in the pile and re-infest your garden next year. Speeding up the process: Stirring the pile from time to time, speeds up the process Keep it loose to allow air flow Red worms will speed up the composting process. Add them to your pile once and they should reproduce

Nuture Your Plants

Your garden might seem like it's sleeping right now but, look a little closer and you'll see exciting activity beginning to happen. So now is the time to clear up weedy beds and begin mulching to get it ready for spring.

Benefits of Mulch

Mulching can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your soil and your plants. If you have not considered mulching your garden in the past, you may want to reconsider.

Mulches are a labour saving device for the gardener. A layer of mulch will help prevent the germination of many weed seeds, reducing the need for cultivation or the use of herbicides. Mulches also help moderate the soil temperature and retain moisture during dry weather, reducing the need for watering. Mulches protect the soil from the impact of raindrops that can cause crusting. Crusting can prevent the germination of seedlings.

While there are many types of mulch, organic mulches such as wood chips, grass clippings, or other locally available materials help improve the soil by adding organic matter as they decompose. They also may encourage the growth of worms and other beneficial soil organisms that can help improve soil structure and the availability of nutrients for plants.

Choosing a mulch material

What is your primary objective in using mulch? If you are most interested in weed control in a vegetable garden, a layer of newspaper covered with grass clippings or just grass clippings will work well. However, if you are finishing off a beautiful perennial garden in the front of your house, you probably will want to use something more attractive such as bark mulch.

• How long do you want the mulch to stay in place? If you are mulching around shrubs that will remain in place for years, you may want to use inorganic mulches such as brick chips, marble chips, or stone. While these will not provide organic matter to the soil, they will be permanent. Note that they are difficult to remove if you change your mind or want to add bulbs or perennials.

• How much money do you want to spend? Mulching does not need to be expensive. Some communities offer chipped wood or compost to residents. Leaves, newspaper, and grass clippings are inexpensive mulches.

• How much will you need? To be effective, most organic mulches need to be between 2 and 4 inches thick. Therefore, a 10 feet by 10 feet garden mulched 3 inches deep will require 25 cubic feet of mulch.