Being a wee babe in arms when it comes to compost making would someone advise me please? I'm doing everything I can to successfully make compost, layered herbaceous stuff, paper, cardboard, veg trimmings etc. So far so good. I've had the offer of some bags of 5-10 year old manure, I'm not sure if it's poultry or cow muck.
Should I add it to my compost heap or put it on the garden as it is? I can have as much as I want but it's from a friend who lives 60 miles away so I'm limited to how much I can get in the car. I won't be wasting fuel because I'd collect when I socially visit.
@Woodgreen. Did you read all of the article, it does not contain all the nutrients your garden needs.
“These continue the process of making nutrients available
to plants: although containing less than 2 percent nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, garden compost is a natural ‘slow- release’ fertiliser. Its main value, however, is as organic matter for improving soil structure and texture, and as a source of humus that binds to nutrients, making them available to plants.”
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
An interesting article @Lyn, great for anyone wanting to start making compost or for those of us who like to learn more. Thanks for posting the link.
It was good to read in the article that home made compost adds nutrients too. This saves on buying fertilisers, which is good.
Indeed, from that article: "It also provides
a natural source of ‘slow-release’ nutrients for plants." That's why it's good for more than just seedlings, it carries on providing as the plant grows.
It is seriously good stuff, we wouldn't be putting so much effort into making it if it wasn't. I know, i've tested it and proven it.
@Woodgreen. Did you read all of the article, it does not contain all the nutrients your garden needs.
“These continue the process of making nutrients available
to plants: although containing less than 2 percent nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, garden compost is a natural ‘slow- release’ fertiliser. Its main value, however, is as organic matter for improving soil structure and texture, and as a source of humus that binds to nutrients, making them available to plants.”
Yes indeed Lyn, but it's good to know that it's helping soil structure, as well as adding some nutrients to my borders where high levels are not needed. It makes it all the more satisfying after the work of making the compost, so I was pleased to read that in an RHS article. It's something I've done all the years I've been gardening and I hope articles like the one above, and kind encouragement via this forum will set others onto the path of putting spent plant material to such beneficial use. Comfrey is especially good for adding nutrients. The late Lawrence D. Hills did a lot of work to increase its use in various ways and it was his enthusiasm for composting that got me started. It's all good.
It really does help the soil structure, adds worms which soil just cannot live without, and once you get your soil in good condition, your plants/veg will grow for you. Just don’t rely on it to sustain your plants first off, it needs time and help from other ingredients. As Punkdoc says, dung is good, it’s full of much needed bacteria.
I don’t put any extra fertiliser on the garden now, and just used some chicken pellets at first when we dug out a pine forest that had been planted here! My dad was obsessed with growing various pines from seeds and cuttings.
I am growing seeds/seedlings in it now and potting on with the added bit of bonemeal. I won’t know until next year how well it’s working, I don’t think it will sustain tubs and baskets in its own. I planted daffodil bulbs in it last year, lovely show but then they store what they need in their bulb.
Im hoping to not buy much MPC next year. We’ll see.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Same here @Lyn, bought compost is so variable now.
I've never used muck of any kind. My compost does a good enough job for me. I don't usually add fertiliser in the recommended quantities either as I find it encourages too much growth what with fertile soil and lots of rain, but I do like to use the liquid seaweed fertilisers.
I don't know how it is there, but it's blowing a gale here with heavy rain. Roll on Spring!
@Woodgreen. Here the weather is too dangerous to go out, OH tried to go for a walk this morning but came back as walking under trees wasn’t a good idea, hard to believe we ever had a summer.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Posts
I'm doing everything I can to successfully make compost, layered herbaceous stuff, paper, cardboard, veg trimmings etc. So far so good. I've had the offer of some bags of 5-10 year old manure, I'm not sure if it's poultry or cow muck.
Should I add it to my compost heap or put it on the garden as it is? I can have as much as I want but it's from a friend who lives 60 miles away so I'm limited to how much I can get in the car. I won't be wasting fuel because I'd collect when I socially visit.
It was good to read in the article that home made compost adds nutrients too. This saves on buying fertilisers, which is good.
“These continue the process of making nutrients available
That's why it's good for more than just seedlings, it carries on providing as the plant grows.
It is seriously good stuff, we wouldn't be putting so much effort into making it if it wasn't.
I know, i've tested it and proven it.
It's something I've done all the years I've been gardening and I hope articles like the one above, and kind encouragement via this forum will set others onto the path of putting spent plant material to such beneficial use.
Comfrey is especially good for adding nutrients. The late Lawrence D. Hills did a lot of work to increase its use in various ways and it was his enthusiasm for composting that got me started.
It's all good.
Just don’t rely on it to sustain your plants first off, it needs time and help from other ingredients. As Punkdoc says, dung is good, it’s full of much needed bacteria.
I don’t put any extra fertiliser on the garden now, and just used some chicken pellets at first when we dug out a pine forest that had been planted here! My dad was obsessed with growing various pines from seeds and cuttings.
I am growing seeds/seedlings in it now and potting on with the added bit of bonemeal.
I won’t know until next year how well it’s working, I don’t think it will sustain tubs and baskets in its own.
I planted daffodil bulbs in it last year, lovely show but then they store what they need in their bulb.
Im hoping to not buy much MPC next year. We’ll see.
I've never used muck of any kind. My compost does a good enough job for me. I don't usually add fertiliser in the recommended quantities either as I find it encourages too much growth what with fertile soil and lots of rain, but I do like to use the liquid seaweed fertilisers.
I don't know how it is there, but it's blowing a gale here with heavy rain.
Roll on Spring!
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
And everything is still standing!