…equal, so when in doubt, look for certified compost. Certification indicates that the compost has met the standards of the US Composting Council (USCC). The USCC tests for a stringent…
…mix it up and wet it down periodically — and get great compost in the end. Things to Compost, or Not Compost “We can compost everything,” Robert says. “If…
…for putting compost to work in the garden is to use finished compost to brew compost tea – a liquid used as a foliar feed. In Part One, we discussed…
…and how-to instructions) Confessions of an Obsessed Composter – my composting podcast with Lee Reich (from the man who composts everything) US Composting Council Certified Compost Milorganite: Our podcast episode…
…my free resource, The Complete Guide to Home Composting. Top Reasons People Give for Not Composting Though home composting reduces what ends up in landfills and provides a valuable soil…
…opts not to turn his compost heaps at all. He allows all his composting materials to break down in place on their own. The process is slower, but composting takes…
…topdressing a lawn with compost, you want to use enough compost to be effective but not so much that the compost smothers the grass. Aim to use between a quarter…
…vermicompost and unsterilized vermicompost. The control group, with no vermicast, was full of pythium, and the sterilized vermicompost barely affected the pythium. But the unsterilized vermicompost, which is rich in…
…compost in the shade. Hot compost is all about a thriving party of microbial activity. Hopefully, these basic steps help to break down some of the mystery of composting. There’s…
…steps to make great compost. Of all the things you could put into your soil to help your plants grow, compost is the single best amendment you can add. Compost…
…will be safe to add to your compost. For comprehensive instructions on making compost, you can get my free resource, The Complete Guide to Home Composting. It will tell you…
…composting, Lee proudly proclaims he has invented the “ultimate composting bin,” replete with all the features any discerning composter would want. After decades of composting in his garden, Lee says…
…Links & Resources Episode 013: Backyard Composting – Confessions of an Obsessed Composter with Lee Reich Episode 016: Composting Guide A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost…
…for Composting at Home: You Asked, Joe Lamp’l Answers joegardener Video Blog: How to Make a Garden Compost Sifter (and Why You Should) The Complete Guide to Home Composting …
…16: Composting Guide A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost Episode 75: Top Questions for Composting at Home: You Asked, Joe Lamp’l Answers joegardener blog: Backyard Composting:…
…accelerate the composting process. That stops many would-be composters dead in their tracks. I believe it’s one of the biggest impediments to getting started with home composting. That said, having…
…compost and aged composted manure make good bedding. They must be aged because immature compost or uncomposted manure will heat up as it decomposes, and that would be bad news…
…Top Questions for Composting at Home: You Asked, Joe Lamp’l Answers joegardener Video Blog: How to Make a Compost Bin Using Free Shipping Pallets The Complete Guide to Home Composting…
…the greatest gift is still to come when we use those leaves as mulch or in compost. While there is no dispute over the spectacular beauty of leaf color change…
…your compost purchase safe is to find a supplier that offers Certified compost, as deemed by the U.S Composting Council. Their website offers some solid advice and a database of…
…of Jesse Frost) Jesse’s Four Types of Compost Jesse classifies compost in four ways based on its intended use: mulching compost, fertilizing compost, nutritional compost and inoculating compost. Mulching…
…free resource, The Complete Guide to Home Composting, to learn everything you need to know to start composting effectively. Compost is one of the best amendments for improving garden soil,…
…fall, I use up all the compost I’ve built up over the spring and summer. I continue to make new compost throughout the winter, and I use that compost now….
…to your compost pile and then you won’t have to dig up squishy peels in your garden. Compost Tea Does compost tea improve soil or ward off disease? Compost teas…
…if you don’t wear gloves when you handle the compost. Trench composting: Some people like to trench compost by burying everything in the ground. While “trench compost” is a passive…
…much you love compost. So let’s start there. So Devon T. asked – he said he started a five-gallon compost in March, and he’s not really seeing any visual changes…
…mostly decomposed). Once I’ve applied compost, I push the mulch back into place to protect the soil – and the compost. Direct contact with the soil allows the compost to…
…Links & Resources My Video and blog post – How to build the pallet compost bin The compost thermometer I have (pictured above) The compost fork I love shown in…
…I maintain my compost beds too. I honestly can’t guarantee that building healthy soil and compost bins will prevent fire ants in your garden, but it does seem to be…
…ensure powdery mildew does not overwinter in your compost pile, you should practice hot composting. Not only does hot composting turn inputs into humus much faster, the process also kills…
…reputable supplier.I make a lot of compost at home. But it’s never enough, other than to amend my beds each year. Therefore, it’s very likely you’ll need to purchase compost…
…a number of educational programs and consultant training. Today’s episode is the first in a two-part series. Next week, the conversation continues with a focus on compost and compost tea…
…my lawn, or storing them in a compost heap to break down for later use. Spreading well-composted horse manure over my lawn once or twice a year (well-composted manure will…
…a layer of compost. The compost sits on the soil surface to act like a layer of mulch until the soil food web works it into the surface. As a…
…of both), you can add compost to your transplanting medium, but John recommends against planting directly into compost only. While homemade compost offers valuable nutrients, think twice before adding…
…creates the perfect compost addition. The manure is high in nitrogen and, so, considered a green material in the world of composting. The sawdust is considered a brown material –…
…feed their animals with hay that was treated with persistent herbicides that do not break down in the composting process. Even if you use “composted” horse manure in your garden,…
…compost pile either. If that composted manure is added to a garden, the herbicides can kill vegetables and other plants. Not all plants are as susceptible to herbicides but some…
…of the ones I use them for most is filling them with compost and distributing onto my garden beds for topdressing. Composting I’m a big composter and a huge fan…
…important, as is mixing compost inputs in the right ratios. By mixing compost inputs in the right ratios and turning the pile to introduce oxygen, we can reduce the…
…may have heard me talk a little about compost? Okay, I talk a lot about compost. That’s because compost is the single best soil amendment we can add to our…
…This area is called the rhizosphere. How Compost Helps Plants Absorb Nutrients Compost itself is low in nutrients, so why do we add it to our gardens to help…
…endless supply of free worm castings. Gardeners everywhere know that compost is black gold for the garden, but vermicompost is the best of the best — and farmers…
…my Beginning Gardener Fundamentals course wants to know what she can use as carbon-rich inputs for composting in the summer. Of all the common gardening questions, composting questions are my…
…Resources joegardener Blog: Backyard Composting: A Simple Recipe for Making Great Compost joegardener Blog: The Numbers on Fertilizer Labels, What They Mean joegardener Facebook Group Kubota Milorganite® US Composting Council…
…be heavy, which means it’s not easy – and certainly wouldn’t be cheap – to ship. Good garden soil should include materials such as composted wood products and composted manure….
…Instagram joegardener Twitter Growing a Greener World® International Society of Arboriculture Milorganite® U.S. Composting Council U.S. Composting Council: Find Compost Exmark – Podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joegardener.com…
…properties in potting soil? That was a question Mark set out to answer. The Compost and Coir Solution It was believed for years that compost was too unstable for successful…
…planting in straight compost. While you can get great results in compost, it doesn’t have everything that plants need. Even though compost is quite diverse on its own, plants require…
… Rounding out this trio is compost. Realizing all the benefits of compost is an “ah-ha!” moment for new gardeners. As Ines Rocha puts it, “Compost!!!” Jude Hawk says, “I…
…if you should top dress the organic mulch with compost or pull the mulch back, add the compost, then reapply the mulch. Well, in the long game, it all comes…
…that the amendment falls into the spaces created from the aeration. I offer two cautions when it comes to compost and aged manure. One: If you buy compost, know what…
…grass, you should apply compost that you made with grass clippings, and if you want to grow tomatoes, you should use compost you made from composted tomato plants. (A caveat…
…people like to do, then get some high-quality topsoil and compost. Use about 30% topsoil and 30% compost, and for the remaining 40% make the mix airy and light with…
…featuring Brie Arthur My post about Killer Compost GGW Episode featuring segment on Killer Compost Bioassay Test GGW Episode: 801- A Year in the Life of the Garden Farm (Part…
…Inga says to choose resistant varieties. Photo: Courtesy of Inga Meadows Why You Shouldn’t Compost Diseased Plant Material Plant diseases will survive in a compost pile. When that compost…
…Backyard Composting: A Simple Recipe for Making Great Compost joegardenerTV: Why Leaves Change Color in Fall joegardenerTV: How to Use Leaves as Garden Mulch The Complete Guide to Home Composting…
…like the present. Just like growing vegetables, making compost is easier than you think. I’ve written a lot on composting, but my short blog on Backyard Composting is a good…
…prevents unintended consequences. This is a great approach for treating poison ivy too. Weeds in Compost Gardeners often ask me if weeds can be composted. As a general rule, I…
…chips again. Liz advises that if you need to make lots of compost but you don’t have space for a compost heap, you can put your organic materials like grass…
…& Resources Episode 007: Organic Weed Control with Jeff Gillman Episode 016: Composting Guide A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost Episode 040: Prepping Your Garden For…
…It’s very likely you’ll need to purchase compost beyond what you make. Not all compost is created equal. An easy way to play your compost purchase safe is to find…
…vermicompost, mushroom compost, finely ground bark, or composted cow or poultry manure. The more diversity you provide in your soil, the better. One key note: if you opt to use…
…of compost. He plants directly into the compost and finds that the seeds germinate and grow through the wet paper into the turf surface. The original turf breaks down under…
…one. Composting is really a lot simpler than I think people, sometimes, think about. For years, my composting system was really piles of built-up organic matter that would amass to…
…fast as plants are taking up the nutrients. You can use compost as mulch too, though I like to consider compost as another layer of soil, and I add a…
…Deeper Into the Science of Soil Episode 116: Understanding the Soil Food Web, with Dr. Elaine Ingham Episode 117: Compost, Compost Tea and the Soil Food Web, with Dr. Elaine…
…my lawn early every spring. One of the very best attributes of compost is its ability to hold moisture. Compost is a mix of organic matter, consisting of billions of…
…good layering material. Near a forest, use chopped leaves. Whatever the layers are, cap the top with finished compost. The layer of finished compost will inoculate the materials underneath with…
…be most successful – no matter what you’re growing – when you are more thoughtful about how and when you water or fertilize. Instead, start by amending with compost. Compost…
…other products that are essentially just wood. The ingredients list revealed that the bag contains processed forest products, recycled wood products, arbor fines, Sphagnum peat moss, humus, compost, composted poultry…
…as they grow are the withdrawals, and applications of compost, vermicompost worm castings and slow-release fertilizer are your deposits. Continue to make steady deposits, and you will have healthier, more…
…amendment of quality compost will improve your soil health in many ways — including richer nutrient value across the board. I rely on compost to keep my raised beds…
…down and covering it with compost. He plants directly into the compost and finds that the seeds grow roots down through the wet paper into the turf, which itself breaks…
…and her husband, John, use a wood chipper in their composting process. Almost everything they add to their bulk composting pile goes through the chipper first. In between layers of…
…make to the soil to make it a better growing environment for blueberries. Beyond acidity, blueberries prefer well-aerated, consistently moist soil that’s high in organic matter. While compost is…
…be placed in your compost pile. In large-scale composting operations, the compost can reach a temperature high enough and sustain it long enough to kill pathogens. But Susan points out…
…Dirty on Everything Compost How to Create a Productive Raised Bed Garden Backyard Composting: A Simple Recipe for Making Great Compost Milorganite: Our podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of…
…compost. Pro tip: She saves her own compost for the garden and uses only purchased compost in her containers because it’s less chunky. If the pot will hold succulents or…
…acidity, blueberries prefer soil that is well-aerated, consistently moist and high in organic matter. When you think organic matter, hopefully you think compost. I love compost, and I hope you…
…When PittMoss uses compost in products, the compost must meet USDA standards. Climate Smart The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program is offering $1 billion for pilot…
…as leaf litter reduces the food that’s available to birds. (photo: Amy Prentice) Sourcing Leaves for Compost and Mulch Leaves provide great value to gardeners as a compost ingredient…
…compost. So naturally, it’s the focus of the first chapter in his book – Compost = Stewardship. The act of composting is taking materials which are considered waste and repurposing…
…information on how to confidently make your own compost — as promised in this podcast episode — you can download my free resource, The Complete Guide to Home Composting. Compost…
…to help speed up the decomposition process. Your best solution is to add those household materials to your compost. They are great additions to the compost pile. Once they break…
…of vermicompost from my friend Jack Chamber’s company TerraThrive, I am adding it to all my seed starting mixes. I now use 20% vermicompost in my seed starting mix, and…
…into compost to enrich the soil. The principle is to build the soil up rather than digging down. The team gathered as many organic materials as they could that they…
…layer of compost before covering them with compost and mulch. (Photo: Brent Heath) How to Prepare Soil and Fertilize Bulbs I’ve mentioned the importance of full exposure to sunlight…
…and impenetrable. Further recommended practices include building up the organic matter — by adding compost, turning in cover crops and using organic mulch — and avoiding soil disturbance, which means…
…outside material, such as fertilizer or compost of unknown origin. Questionable compost may contain weed seeds or, even worse, persistent herbicides that will kill or stunt the growth of broadleaf…
…or shrub like the pros – Video Best Watering Tips for Trees & Shrubs – Video Composting A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost – Podcast Rain…
…Compost is a great example of that. As you add compost, your soil pH will tend toward neutral. Fertilizer Forms Fertilizers are most commonly-available in liquid or granular forms, spikes,…
…is the approach I take at the GardenFarm™ too, and it cuts my weed management time significantly. Zero-Sum rain can apply to your compost too. If you’re a home composter,…
…she lives, and she found that using chicken wire to keep the rodents out of compost bins on the ground is not effective. Her solution was to use compost tumblers,…
…thinking. Everything that is thrown away could be redistributed, fed to chickens or other livestock, or – at a minimum – composted. These realizations solidified Rob’s commitment to environmental activism….
…existing soil. That’s it. The existing soil is full of beneficial organisms and the compost is too. There’s no need for me to work the new compost into the existing…
…048: The Simple Science Behind Great Gardening, with Lee Reich Episode 016: Composting Guide A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost Other Video How-to’s with joe gardener…
…by adding a compost bin to your yard. Your kitchen scraps and yard waste will decompose into the best soil amendment there is — compost. When you add compost to…
…to the garden. Pollinators are loving the bee balm in my perimeter flower garden beds. Compost Accumulation The growing season is far from over but already I have…
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