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Compost and Mulch
Composting and using mulch are not new ideas. Compost is the natural breakdown of plant remains and other once-living materials to make an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for adding to houseplants or enriching garden soil. Making your own compost is not only beneficial for your garden, but ecologically sound as leaves, yard waste, and some household waste and organic materials can be used. Mulch is a layer of material placed over soil to modify the effects of the local climate. It is used to hold in moisture, insulate from cold, and as an assist in controlling weeds. To learn more and share knowledge about compost and mulch, ask and answer questions about them here.
878 Questions
How do you make a compost heap at home?
In a nutshell, compost is made through the decomposition of organic matter. Once something is completely decomposed, some of the original object will have turned into gas (carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, hydrogen), some into liquid runoff, and there will also be left over a completely stabilized black crumbly substance called humus (pronounced hyo͞o'məs) which is what determines how dark soil is, and is what contains the nutrients which plants feed off of. So compost has always been constantly produced by nature, but when someone makes compost in a compost bin they're trying to control the process of decomposition in order to make the most valuable end product. The way one does this is by balancing the mixture of "green" material with "brown" material so that the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio (how many parts carbon there are to one part nitrogen) stays ideally around 30:1, making sure the compost is always damp, and making sure there's always a supply of oxygen. This ensures that the smallest amount of gas and liquid is produced as possible and that by the end there will be a far higher percentage of the nutrient-rich humus then if you just put a pile of rotting fruit on the ground. It is gold for the garden, an excellent way to recycle organic matter, and really quite easy. Anything you need to know about compost is readily available at gardening sites, wikipedia, or the library, and if you're interested, then believe me you can do it.
How many cubic yards in a ton of compost?
I have not a firm answer. Compost weight is variable and as such the answer may be misleading.
Consider this, a cubic foot of water weighs 64 pounds. A tonne is 1,000 kg.
The number of cubic feet in a cubic yare is 27. so a cubic yard of water weighs 1,728 lb. A tonne is then 3,806.167 lb. of water. Now compost is lighter than water. there are 454gm in a pound so find the weight of compost in a cubic foot and do the math
To break down carbon- and nitrogen-rich compostables and to store finished compost are ways in which compost bins are used. Compost bins may be made of metal, plastic or wood, with holes or mesh for proper aeration. They need to be located conveniently for layering and moisturizing in the process of composting and for retrieving once the end-product becomes available for amending, fertilizing, or mulching soil.
Do composted sanitary pads decompose quickly?
The pads that you buy at the store usually have plastics in them, so they don't break down very well. But, if you make your own pads, with cotton, then yes, those will. You can also buy (or make) washable, reusable pads.
Where does compost eventually end up?
Soil is the place where compost tends to end up eventually. The dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic material in question results from the human-guided or Mother Nature-directed natural breakdown of carbon- and nitrogen-rich recyclable materials. It tends to be used as soil amendments, fertilizers, mulches, and rejuvenators.
Are animal droppings turned into compost?
Animal droppings can be turned into compost fertilizer. For example, currently, the most common and valuable processing method is to turn cow dung/manureinto sellable organic fertilizer. Cow dung is a derived product from wastes produced by cattle, providing high levels of organic materials and rich in nutrients, including about nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as well as many other essential nutrients. According to the data, daily cow dung contain 12.9% DM and excreting a total of 0.15kg N, 0.04kg P and 0.08kg K. Moreover, cow manure also contains high levels of ammonia that can almost kill the growth of the pathogens. Once raw cow dung composted by professional compost turner, it can provide lots of benefits to the garden and organic farm, which makes cow manure very popular and useful raw material of organic fertilizer production.
Why people should compost their vegetables?
Committing to sustainability, contributing to garden sanitation, decreasing environmental pollution and greenhouse gases, honoring pioneer lifestyles in technology-driven societies, improving soils and soil food webs, recycling nutrient-rich materials, and reducing landfill inputs are reasons why people should compost their vegetables. Vegetables fulfill green, nitrogen-rich categories to be alternated with brown, carbon-rich contributions to compost bins, heaps, and pits. They help produce dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter known as humus within a year and therefore reduce household expenses for amendments, fertilizers, mulches, and soils as well as worldwide assault by the greenhouse gases from landfills and the pollution from the proliferation of non-organic contaminants, pollutants or toxins.
Resourcefulness, sanitation, self-reliance, and sustainability is the importance of a compost pit. The form of composting in question relies upon a hole, dug in the ground and filled with carbon- and nitrogen-rich yard debris. It will keep litter away from edibles and ornamentals and produce dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic material to be used as local, on-site soil amendments, fertilizers, and mulches.
How can composting help solve the problem of excess waste?
when the item you recycled decomposes, it sends nutrients into the soil. then when you plant something-like a flower,for example-,that living organism will absorb the nutrients thatit needs.
Can a compost heap be considered a food source?
Yes, a compost heap can be considered a food source -- but not for humankind or wildlife -- even though not all edibles can go into the pile.
Specifically, the carbon-, nitrogen- and oxygen-rich materials which constitute a compost heap accept only limited amounts of human-friendly edibles. For example, it cannot have dairy and meat products or greasy, oily foods. The above-mentioned, approved materials will become food sources for microorganisms whose predatory behavior contributes to anaerobic decomposition.
Nothing in the compost pile should be attractive to human and wildlife palates.
Why should you compost organic material?
Budget control, environmental quality, neighborhood sustainability, and resource maximization are reasons why one should compost organic material. Organic material breaks down aerobically and cooperatively with environmental well-being and human health since air is involved, as opposed to the airless, anaerobic, greenhouse gas-producing processes typical of landfills. It provides dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic material which can be used as soil amendments, fertilizers, and mulch, all of which reduce household and office budgets and improve community sustainability and neighborhood quality.
Can compost be used for growing grass?
in my experience, it depends on a few factors. Climate, moisture and what's in the loam. I have been very successful by grading the area and preparing the pre-loam surface by steel raking and compacting. Some people use a roller&rake I prefer to rent a gas powered compactor. If you prepare the under surface and compact it to allow for natural drainage with a slight grade if possible, (to avoid puddles) you can use about 1" of sifted and clean loam topping. When starting a new lawn in summer depending on the climate, I will get some peat moss and lay down about 1/4" before the "clean" loam. this will store moisture while the grass seed is germinating if it's hot and dry. It's a careful balance of water but like painting, construction, taking a test or getting ready for a date, it's ALL about the prep! It also makes sense to rent an overseeder for the best coverage. good luck
Yes, citrus peels can be put in compost bins. But the compostable in question must be cut, shredded or slice into tiny pieces and free of dairy, greasy, meaty, or oily residue. It also must not be included in vermi-composting since citrus can serve as irritants to composting worms.
What can be put on a compost heap?
Generally, it's kitchen scraps and yard waste that go into the compost pile. Kitchen scraps tend to include many items other than dairy products, greasy or oily foods, and meat products. Those three food groups tend to attract nuisance wildlife.
Yard waste may include brown carbon rich debris such as fallen branches and leaves. It also may include green nitrogen rich debris such as fresh grass clippings. But whether dead or alive, it's never a good idea to put in diseased plants or weeds. The diseased plants may contaminate the entire pile, and weed seeds may sprout.
Outdoor compost container idea?
The outside compost container needs to let in air. It needs to be turned regularly. And it needs to be protected from direct sunlight, rain, and wind. There are four styles of containers that typically meet those three basic requirements. They are snow-fence and wire-mesh holding units; wood and wire three-bin turning units; and worm composting bins. University extension websites tend to be authoritative and respected. Instructions and pictures of the former are found at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/G06957.htm.
What are the layers of compost bins?
A series of bottom, moistened brown, moistened compost or garden soil, moistened green, and moistened activator constitutes the layers in a compost pile.
Specifically, the pile begins with a layer of brush, straw or twigs to facilitate air flow throughout the pile. Secondly, a layer of carbon-rich materials - coffee grounds, dried or fallen foliage, egg shells, sawdust, shredded paper - is added. Thirdly, it is covered with moistened compost or with garden-quality soil. Fourthly, it receives a moistened layer of nitrogen-rich grass or plant clippings and vegetable scraps. Fifthly, it will be covered with moistened blood meal or fresh manure. Layers 2-5 will be repeated in the above-mentioned order and with the above-mentioned materials until the pile reaches its desired height.
I need a nice table top compost bin where can you find this?
A table top compost bin does not sound like a very good idea unless the table is located outside. Compost involves the fermentation and decay of organic material and that usually produces some unpleasant odors, although when the bin is outside, the odor of a healthy bin is not objectionable. You may be thinking of a worm compost bin. These can be kept in the kitchen and should not be smelly. You can find these at many Garden centers or online. I got mine from gardensalive.com
What to do to make a good compost?
You can make a compost bin from almost anything: cinder blocks, lumber, rubber garbage cans ...; to me the question is: "How large or small do you want it to be?" If you live in an area where you get a lot of rain, then you should keep it covered; also, by covering it, you will keep out the night-time critters.
As an example: you could make it 2 feet wide by 2 feet long by 3 feet high with 3 or 4 sides. It may be placed under cover out of the weather or fitted with some type of a lid.
The most important things about composting are:
- Put only vegetables, peelings from the kitchen, cut-up newspapers, leaves, grass, coffee grounds, egg shells [no fish or whole eggs]; and keep the contents as wet as a sponge.
- Turn it over at least once a week.
But you don't even have to make a bin to have good compost. You can just make a pile and get the same results.
Hope this will help you wikihow.com/Build-a-Compost-Bin
A:A compost bin can easily be made by taking an old barrel and placing it in an accessible part of your yard. Fill the barrel with your scraps and give several weeks to decompose. A:In order to make the compost bin you must follow several simple steps. You must get metal, scrap or bought, then put it together, basically like a recycle bin.You can make a compost bin out of a variety of things, be creative! We have a surplus of old garbage cans around my house, so I am using one with has a snapping lid.
By their activity in the soil, earthworms offer many benefits: increased nutrient availability, better drainage, and a more stable soil structure, all of which help improve farm productivity. Worms feed on plant debris (dead roots, leaves, grasses, manure) and soil.
What happens when materials are not composted?
Increases in the budgeted household costs, the degree of environmental pollution, the number of landfills, the use of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and the volume of trash are among the events that happen when composting is not done. Composting produces dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter from recycling kitchen scraps and yard debris. The materials to be composted otherwise tend to end up in landfills, source of greenhouse gases, and to favor higher household costs directed to using store-bought amendments, fertilizers, and mulches instead of the home-made equivalents in compost.
Can cereal boxes be used as organic mulch?
Yes, cereal boxes can be composted safely. It nevertheless is important to cut them down into tiny pieces since larger-sized items generally can be expected to take longer to break down than those of smaller sizes. There sometimes may be concerns over toxic colors seeping into recyclables in the process of decomposition but that most likely will not be a concern here.
Why is compost so nutrient rich?
Non-synthetic procedures and organic inputs are reasons why compost is so nutrient-rich. The product in question demands natural ingredients and processing by human intervention or through Mother Nature. It relies upon the natural breakdown of carbon- and nitrogen-rich recyclables through proper respect for air, beneficial bacteria and fungi, heat, light, and moisture.
Why are food wastes ideal for compost piles?
Food wastes are ideal for compost piles because foods derived from plants are made up of the soluble components of the soil where they grew plus carbon and oxygen taken from the air. Composting such food returns those ingredients to the soil to be used again. Essentially all food wastes -- with the exception of meat and meat products, which can attract foraging animals, and seeds, which can germinate -- are ideal.
Can I use pressure treated wood for compost bin?
It is probably not a good idea as toxic preservatives in the pressure treated wood can leach into the compost and then become incorporated in plants and their fruit and vegetables grown in that compost later. But using appropriate lining materials to completely prevent any contact between the pressure treated wood and the compost inside would avoid this problem. So a complete answer to your question is not simple.
