There seems to be some confusion in the gardening world between “compost” and “humus.” These two terms are used very casually, making some people think that “compost” and “humus” and even “soil” are basically the same kind of thing. And many garden centers also sell something called “Humus compost.” But what exactly are you getting,…
Gardening is an ancient activity that has been around for a long time. And of course, there are a few myths, old wives’ tales, and half-truths about how to compost different materials. Composting with oak leaves is one topic that produces endless debate among gardeners. But what is conjecture, and what is the truth about…
If you’ve dabbled with composting for any length of time, you’ve probably realized something by now. Your compost is getting hot. And as it rots, it gets hotter. In fact, depending on the method used, your pile can reach pretty impressive temperatures! But where does all that heat come from? Why does compost get so…
If it’s organic, it will eventually rot! When I first started composting, I was endlessly questioning whether something could be thrown in the compost bin. The list seems endless 🙂 If you’ve been scratching your head about what you can compost. In that case, this extensive list of composting ingredients will point you in the…
You hear a lot of gardeners expressing concern that their compost isn’t heating up. They will go to great lengths in an attempt to maintain a hot compost pile. Because “hot composting” is generally accepted as the “fastest” way to compost. So heat energy from the sun can be a valuable contribution to this quest….
Do you compost? If so, do you ever toss in a tea bag or two? Tea is an excellent nitrogen source for your compost pile, and this organic material will quickly break down. However, tea “bags” are another story. The bags that hold the leaves can be made of different materials, and some are not…
Figuring out how much compost you need can be tricky at times. And to be honest it’s not always fun doing all the calculations yourself. And because I know you’re a very busy gardener, I’ve created this compost calculator so you can estimate the quantity of lovely organic compost you need for that new shrub! …
Now that you’ve got some fabulous finished compost, can you fathom the different amounts of compost you need for every gardening situation? This can get pretty confusing at times. What if you need to add an inch, two, or four inches? How do you figure out the amount of compost you need? And what if…
Water is one of the four essential ingredients for successful composting. Enough H2O in a pile will help compost microorganisms break down organic wastes. The trick is getting the moisture level just right! Too little, and the microorganisms will struggle to work; too much, and they’ll be starved of oxygen. In the following article, I’ll…
If you’re thinking of lugging around some large quantities of compost, it can be helpful to know how much it’s going to weigh. However, the weight of compost varies according to its moisture content. The wetter the compost, the heavier it becomes. Commercially sold compost has variable levels of moisture depending on the season. Therefore,…