Even though it’s still officially summer, I’m thinking about leaf clean-up. It’s a gargantuan job on my little acre. But I don’t send even one leaf to a landfill--I use them all for mulch and compost. In fact, I have a few truckloads of shredded leaves delivered to my property so I won’t run out of leaf mulch next summer.
Speaking of compost, are you doing it yet? Ok, I know what you’re thinking. It’s one of the first questions people ask—does it smell bad? No, it doesn’t smell at all if you do it right.
All organic matter decomposes. Composting speeds this natural process by providing an ideal environment for all the microorganisms, worms and nematodes that work so hard to make a miracle product for your garden. The result is dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling stuff that looks like fertile soil.
Trust me on this. Composting is the best! It’s easy. It’s free. And you can do it year-round. I add kitchen scraps to my bin all winter, along with shredded leaves that I've conveniently kept in bags. In spring, I harvest what’s ready for my garden. And my plants love me for it.
Why do I rave about compost? Compost is the ultimate soil conditioner. It improves all types of soil—sand, clay and loam. Water penetrates more easily and is retained longer in composted soil. That means your plants will do better during dry spells. And wait till you see how easy it is to dig in composted soil! Planting will be a breeze.
What’s not to like about compost? It protects plants from diseases and insect pests, acts as a slow-release fertilizer, enhances the soil’s ability to retain water and oxygen and can even be used as a mulch. Just one generous application is like adding lush topsoil that would have taken nature a century to create. That’s why it’s called “black gold.” It’s that valuable.
There’s a composting method to suit everyone. Each method has its own merits. Your compost bin can be any size, depending on your needs. And it can be anything from a black trash bag to a fancy tumbler or even a pile in your back yard.
Want to learn how to compost? Sign up for our September 29 Master Gardeners Fall Fest Composting Workshop. You’ll even receive a free compost bin like the one that’s sitting outside my kitchen door.
Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.
UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS
September 8, 2007: Gourds & Birdhouses
Learn how to make birdhouses and other useful items from gourds you can grow in your garden. This is a hands-on workshop.
September 29, 2007: Master Gardeners Fall Fest & Plant Sale
We've planned a great day for you--interesting workshops, self-guided tours of our beautiful display gardens, our spectacular fall plant sale and our popular frugal gardener sale.
Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website
