Benefits of Composting

 Benefits of Composting: Why You Should Use This Valuable Soil Correction

When you look at the "ingredients" for growing a successful garden, many factors work together, including the right amount of sunlight, adequate water, and soil quality. There are many benefits to composting, including maintaining and improving soil quality. In this article, I'm going to explain why adding compost to your garden should be a regular item on your gardening list.

The organic matter you spread in your gardens and lawns can be composted by you using a pile or a compost heap. The compost you use can be purchased in bags at your local garden center. Labels can vary from horse or sheep manure to "organic vegetable manure". Depending on the size of your garden, you may need the delivery. In the spring, depending on where you live, many municipalities have free compost days, which are noticeable.

Keep in mind that different types of compost have slightly different nutrient contents. A soil test can help detect any specific defects in your soil

Benefits of composting

Compost can actually describe composting and the process of putting compost in the garden or on your lawn. Jessica has written a useful article about the science behind making your own compost successfully.

Any green thumb who spreads “garden gold” in their vegetable garden first saw and tasted the product growing in nutritious, healthy soil. I'm going to talk about some of the environmental benefits besides the results based on the results of composting that you can see.

Compost improves soil structure and fertility

Fertilizer adds micronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil for plant growth. This helps the soil retain moisture for the plants and reduces nutrient leakage. Strong plant roots can develop in healthy soil, allowing plants to absorb nutrients more efficiently. Fertilizer helps to retain those nutrients in the soil for a long time. Healthy soil and the plants growing in it are excellent in preventing various pests and diseases.

Compost increases the number of valuable microorganisms in the soil

The humus you add to the garden is full of good bacteria and fungi. These work by decomposing organic matter and aerating the soil. Beneficial soil organisms also work to suppress pathogens.

Fertilization adds nutrients to the soil between successive crops

When I give my raised bed revolution talks, one of my tips (after changing your soil in the spring or fall) is to have some compost bags on hand. (Or, a reserve from your compost pile.) When you harvest crops in the middle of the growing season, say garlic or peas, you will pull some soil out of the garden. Those plants would also be depleted of some nutrients. Adding compost before planting crops in late summer or autumn will re-add valuable nutrients that those new plants need to thrive in the soil.

At the end or beginning of the season, I add compost to the raised beds. It is best to do this work in the fall, so the beds are ready for planting early spring crops. But you can add it in the spring, as well, before you sow vegetable seeds or dig into plants.

Compost helps to repair hard or sandy soils

Although it may seem impossible, the challenging soil modified by compost will improve over time. Instead of plowing hard-filled soil that can disturb the web of microbial activity, adding one layer each year will eventually turn into loose, active soil. Adding compost will loosen the sandy soil, retaining moisture for plants to access, instead of draining quickly.

Applying compost can eliminate the need for chemical lawn fertilizer

Covering your lawn with compost reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. As a result, these chemicals and chemical pesticides can be washed away in our sewage systems and waterways. The slow release of nutrients will help your lawn thrive and allow you to garden in a natural way.

Compost helps with soil erosion

Severe storms can wreak havoc on a garden or yard. Adding compost will help reduce soil erosion. This will help loosen the heavy soil and increase water stagnation in the sandy soil. The U.S. Fertilizer Council refers to compost as a soil "glue" (in a good way!) That binds soil particles together.

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Composting diverts materials from the ground

According to the Compost Council of Canada, biodegradable materials such as food waste make up approximately 40 percent of the residential waste stream in Canada. Composting food waste will reduce the amount of garbage that accumulates in the bins and return it to your garden. It can reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, making it a powerful greenhouse gas. In addition, nutrients are wasted when decomposed in a landfill.