How to Use Compost

Compost is a great alternative to chemical fertilizer and even mulch. Compost has many natural abilities that make it ideal for organic gardening. It contains no chemicals and can be made at home using a compost bin or compost tumbler. To use compost, you must first decide where you will find your raw materials.

Finding Compost

To use compost in the garden, you must first buy it or make it. Traditionally it can take months to create compost in your backyard using a leaf pile or bin, but some compost tumblers allow more oxygen to penetrate the rotting material breaking it up faster and allowing you to use it even earlier. If you need compost right away or would rather not create your own, you can usually buy compost from a nursery. Needless to say, making it yourself is the less expensive means. If you want an organic garden and plan to purchase compost, also be sure the brand you buy is certified organic as well.

Preparing Beds and Pots

Before planting any new items, you should prepare the soil in which they will rest. To do this, break up the dirt in the pots or beds and add a healthy dose of compost. Mix the two together to give the plant even access to the rich nutrients of the compost. In a pot, you should have one half soil and one half compost. Beds will be harder to monitor, but be generous.

Planting

When planting plants, you can use soil or compost to fill in extra areas around the roots. If you’ve prepared the beds properly, you already have compost around the plant, but a bit more is fine as well. Putting a spade full of pure compost at the bottom of the hole before putting in the plant will also give the species a nice start.

Fertilizing

Compost is the most natural fertilizer. Use compost regularly in your garden to help discourage weeds and pests as well as encouraging plants to thrive. As plants in your garden fade and die, you can simply add them back into the compost bin to complete the circle.

Easy Step By Step

• Find compost at the store or take the time to make your own.
• Prepare the soil by mixing one half compost and one half soil
• Plant plants using compost as filler, especially at the bottom of the hole
• Regularly use compost as a fertilizer in the garden.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

Turning over your compost regularly can make it ready for use faster, but be sure to turn from the bottom all the way to the top for the best results.

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