BLOGS

Uses for Compost

When you buy a McCaleb home, you always get a beautiful yard. From aesthetically pleasing landscaping to bountiful gardens, it all starts with having a lovely base. Whatever plans you have for your yard, adding compost to the mix can yield you with fantastic results. Here are a few tips on how to make a quality compost as well as what to use it in.

Be Consistent

The difference between passively making compost and consistently maintaining your compost can be the difference between having a usable product in a few weeks versus a year. If you just passively dump scraps into a bin, you will eventually get compost, but if you are serious about using the finished product, maintaining the right conditions is crucial. Make sure you aerate the pile as well as maintain the right moisture levels, temperature, and nitrogen to carbon ratio for efficient breakdown of matter.

Know When It is Done

As microbes munch on matter, they give off heat. Your pile will give off steam and be warm. You will know it is done when it stops giving off heat. You will also see a significant decrease in the mass of your pile. By the time it is ready, it will be about half the size it was at the start. Some other tell-tale signs that your compost is ready will be a pleasant, earthy aroma, and it will be dark and crumbly.

Screen It

Once your compost is ready, it is likely that there will still be a few larger pieces that were not broken down in the process. You will want to pass your compost through a screen so that all that is left is a fine product. The larger pieces that are left behind are not suitable for soil amendments.

Store It

Regardless of if you garden all year long or only seasonally, you can compost anytime. Just make sure to store your compost properly to not suffocate the microbes. A cloth or woven bag or a plastic container with holes punched in it will do well at keeping your compost healthy and ready for use.

Once you have a finished and screened compost, you can add it as a supplement to any of your gardening projects. Mix it into potting soil for indoor plants or top dress your outdoor garden beds with it. It is important to note that compost is not a substitute for normal soil. It is incredibly dense and moisture holding. So, make sure to only use it as a soil amendment. The rich nutrients will give your plants an incredible boost. With it, your yard will certainly be the envy of the neighborhood.

By McCaleb Homes 5-18-2020