You might be wondering what type of compost is best suited to your gardening needs. And there’s a surprisingly wide range of different types of compost you can use. Which can make things pretty confusing. In fact, I would even say that no one type of compost is the same as another! After all, the…
It’s easy to get confused! The stuff you put in your compost heap eventually turns into something that closely resembles good earthy soil. But is it? Granted, it certainly looks very similar. But there are some essential things to understand about the transformation process that we call “decomposition” and the end product called “compost.” And…
If you’ve watched your compost develop, you’ll know that the garden wastes and food scraps you tossed in look very different as time goes by. But how do you know when the transformation is complete? You might have heard that the ultimate form is “black gold.” But what the heck does finished compost look like…
People who compost look at household waste differently from other people! Composters are constantly wondering if a waste product can be composted or if it should be discarded in the trash. Parchment paper is a kitchen waste product that falls into this category. After all, it comes from trees like other types of paper… Right?…
I’ve heard experienced gardeners say that compost and topsoil are just the same things! I think that statement sums up the level of confusion about these two substances. After all, they look pretty similar. And you grow plants in both of them… Right? So what’s the big deal? Suppose you’re serious about growing healthy, disease-free…
If you’re new to the composting game, you’ve likely been warned you shouldn’t compost meat. The problem is, you’re more carnivore than herbivore, so a decent amount of your kitchen scraps come from animals, not plants. But it seems a shame to throw away those tough pieces of steak and not recycle them. Meat is…
Hot and cold compost are opposites in more than name. Actually, these composting methods are opposites in almost all ways. So what do they have in common? They both make compost! Plus, they both have upsides and downsides. I’ll break down the perks and pitfalls of these very different methods to help you decide whether…
Compost can do some surprising things. Like when it starts to let off steam! It can be quite an alarming sight. In fact, some people mistake this for smoke and worry that their compost might start a fire! But what exactly is going on? And is this a typical event? Below I’ll explain everything you…
You have a good idea of what should and shouldn’t go into your compost. But, it’s tricky knowing whether some types of waste belong there. Like weeds! Many gardening experts warn against composting weeds. But others say it’s safe to toss your morning glory, crabgrass, ivy roots, and blackberry bushes in with the rest of…
Unfortunately, you can’t just whip up some compost whenever your garden looks out of sorts. Even in a world where you can get almost anything you want fast (pizza in 15 minutes, anyone?), you still need to wait for decent homemade compost. There’s a good reason it takes months to make, though. To turn waste…