So, you started your first compost pile in spring. And after some experimenting, you’re helping it break down your organic wastes at a healthy rate (well done!). But now it’s getting cooler, and you’re worried about what will happen to your thriving compost pile in the winter. Good news: You don’t need to put a…
Worm castings, also known as “worm compost,” “vermicast,” or “vermicompost,” are a superfood for plants. Potted plants benefit from worm castings because they improve soil conditions and promote overall health. Potted plants are generally more susceptible to pests and diseases like root rot, so worm castings are incredibly beneficial for them. Every indoor plant parent…
All gardeners know the benefits of composting. But you’ve probably also heard that compost can burn plants. Confused? Compost is intended to benefit your plants, but sometimes, too much of a good thing can be harmful! So in this article, I’ll explain why compost can burn plants and what you can do to avoid this…
Jumping into a massive pile of dead leaves was something I looked forward to every fall when I was a kid 🙂 But as an adult, I started dreading that leaf mountain. What once invited me to play became a slog. That was until I discovered how good leaves are for my garden. Then I…
I remember the first time I checked my outdoor compost after a thundershower. I noticed a brown liquid seeping from the bottom of my bin. Aha! That must be the compost tea I keep hearing marvelous things about! I thought excitedly. Now that I’ve been composting for years, I know the liquid wasn’t compost tea. …
You need patience to compost. And you need more patience to compost in the winter! The cold weather slows down the decomposition, making you wait even longer for your soil supplement. But what if you don’t want to wait that long? Are there ways to speed up composting in winter? Yes! I’ve got tips and…
Whenever I hear someone say compost and fertilizer are the same things, I’m tempted to blurt out, “Oh no, they’re not!” But I bite my tongue because I don’t want to be a know-it-all 🙂 Although I stop myself from correcting people’s gardening knowledge during casual conversations, I share what I know when asked. So…
If you’re like me, you love mulch 🙂 It’s essential for any gardener… But have you ever wondered whether last season’s mulch might be past its prime and need replenishment? So what are your options with old layers of mulch in your garden? Can you compost it, or should you dispose of it another way?…
Your friends warned you that lawns were high maintenance. But your dreams of garden picnics made you lay one down anyway. Just how much trouble could maintaining grass be? You had no idea what you were getting yourself into. As if the mowing and watering aren’t enough, there’s also the weeding and the mountain of…
You’ve got a big garden that makes mountains of waste and needs mountains of compost to keep in tip-top condition. So, your compost bin is always overflowing – but never has the chance to finish breaking down what’s in it. What you need is another bin. And another! Yes, a 3-bin compost system will take…