Answers to your composting questions:
- What is the best type of composting?
This is difficult to say, as different people have different composting needs and different views on the process. Some prefer a more natural approach, such as a free compost heap. Others find this unsightly and messy, and prefer a urban compost tumbler or a composter. What's more important than the type is that the method is sound, and that there is aeration, moisture, warmth, and a liberal food source for microorganisms.
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I put some wonderful grass clippings in my compost heap, but they rotted into a kind of sludge. What went wrong?
The microorganisms in compost need variety and aeration to prevent putrefaction. Be sure to provide a generous mixture of different kinds of organic material in your compost pile.
- What materials are best for my compost pile?
Anything organic, from table scraps to paper, can be put into a compost pile. There are a couple of things to look out for, however. Pine and evergreen needles don't rot well, so avoid putting them in. Also, don't use meat, dairy, bones, or bread in your compost, as they attract vermin.
- How do I know when my compost has matured?
When there is no longer heat in the center of your pile, and the compost has a pleasant, earthy smell and the feeling of a damp sponge, it has matured, and is ready for use in your garden.
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How do I best use my compost?
Try digging it well into the soil around your vegetable garden, mixing it with potting soil, or applying it to the soil for new plantings (this should be done about five weeks before you plant). You can also mix semi-mature compost with mature compost to make a mulch to spread in your flower beds.
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