What exactly is a compost pile? A compost pile is an example of fungi and natural decomposers hard at work, doing what they do best, which is decomposing dead material. A compost pile can be composed of leaves, lawn clippings, and even peelings and coffee grounds from your kitchen. However, a compost pile isn’t simply an outdoor trash bin. You need to be selective and thoughtful about what you toss in your pile. Grease, dairy, or other animal bi products might cause your compost pile to emit an aroma and also attract neighboring animals. Manure can be added to your pile and although this will cause an odor, the odor should only last for a few days, and you can cover the manure with straw or leaves to help mask the odor.
Building a compost pile is very simple. Basically, anywhere you are piling leaves, that reach a height of about 4 feet tall, you have created a compost pile. It isn’t necessary to buy fancy compost bins from the store, you can make your own. It is completely up to you whether or not you would like to store your compost in a bin or a pile. Some people like to toss their leaves in the corner of their lawn where the two fences of their backyard are joined together. If you would like your compost to be a bit tidier, you can store it in practically any container. Some people even have a small container that they keep in their kitchen to store peelings until they can be taken out to their compost. It is important to remember that your compost container needs to have holes in the bottom to permit oxygen to enter and to allow for drainage.
When learning about composting, you might hear a lot of talk about “turning” your compost pile. Turning your pile is basically like stirring a pot. When you turn the contents of your compost pile it encourages oxygen flow, helps speed up the degeneration process, and helps prevent odors; however this is not a necessary step to create compost. Your compost is ready to use in your garden when it begins to have an earthy look and feel and you can no longer tell what it used to be.
Compost can be used in several ways. It can be used to condition your soil before you begin planting, or it can be used in potted plants, or even as mulch around your plants. Although, compost in not a substitution for fertilizer, it can aide your soil in richness, and slowly releases plant nutrients.
There is often talk about creating compost piles when one is speaking about being environmentally friendly or “green”. How does a compost pile help the environment? Have you ever seen bags of leaves on the side of the road awaiting trash pick up? When your garbage man picks up those trash bags full of leaves, they are carried to a huge landfill. Landfills are becoming a growing concern today because of the massive amounts of trash we are generating. When you have your own compost pile you are helping by recycling and reusing your own trash. It will also, in turn, save you money on buying bags of mulch or soil conditioners. When you look at it as a way of saving money and helping the environment, building your own compost is a very wise investment in your future!
What exactly is a compost pile? A compost pile is an example of fungi and natural decomposers hard at work, doing what they do best, which is decomposing dead material. A compost pile can be composed of leaves, lawn clippings, and even peelings and coffee grounds from your kitchen. However, a compost pile isn’t simply an outdoor trash bin. You need to be selective and thoughtful about what you toss in your pile. Grease, dairy, or other animal bi products might cause your compost pile to emit an aroma and also attract neighboring animals. Manure can be added to your pile and although this will cause an odor, the odor should only last for a few days, and you can cover the manure with straw or leaves to help mask the odor.
Building a compost pile is very simple. Basically, anywhere you are piling leaves, that reach a height of about 4 feet tall, you have created a compost pile. It isn’t necessary to buy fancy compost bins from the store, you can make your own. It is completely up to you whether or not you would like to store your compost in a bin or a pile. Some people like to toss their leaves in the corner of their lawn where the two fences of their backyard are joined together. If you would like your compost to be a bit tidier, you can store it in practically any container. Some people even have a small container that they keep in their kitchen to store peelings until they can be taken out to their compost. It is important to remember that your compost container needs to have holes in the bottom to permit oxygen to enter and to allow for drainage.
When learning about composting, you might hear a lot of talk about “turning” your compost pile. Turning your pile is basically like stirring a pot. When you turn the contents of your compost pile it encourages oxygen flow, helps speed up the degeneration process, and helps prevent odors; however this is not a necessary step to create compost. Your compost is ready to use in your garden when it begins to have an earthy look and feel and you can no longer tell what it used to be.
Compost can be used in several ways. It can be used to condition your soil before you begin planting, or it can be used in potted plants, or even as mulch around your plants. Although, compost in not a substitution for fertilizer, it can aide your soil in richness, and slowly releases plant nutrients.
There is often talk about creating compost piles when one is speaking about being environmentally friendly or “green”. How does a compost pile help the environment? Have you ever seen bags of leaves on the side of the road awaiting trash pick up? When your garbage man picks up those trash bags full of leaves, they are carried to a huge landfill. Landfills are becoming a growing concern today because of the massive amounts of trash we are generating. When you have your own compost pile you are helping by recycling and reusing your own trash. It will also, in turn, save you money on buying bags of mulch or soil conditioners. When you look at it as a way of saving money and helping the environment, building your own compost is a very wise investment in your future!