If you have a garden, you want it to thrive at all times. It can when it has the right nutrients, which is what compost is designed for. To get the most out of this decayed organic material for your garden, consider these tips.
1. Place it Appropriately
Location is everything when it comes to compost and will ultimately determine how healthy your garden is overall. You need to be strategic with how deep it's placed. Ideally, it needs to be placed into your garden soil a couple of inches.
Anything deeper will prevent nutrients from activating properly. You also don't want to set out compost too high, like on the surface, because it will eventually dry out. You need to find a happy medium, which isn't that difficult if you actually measure your garden's soil with measuring tape. Mark off a couple of inches so you know how deep to go.
2. Use Organic Materials
Which materials you use is also important for how effective your compost is. It's recommended to use as many organic materials as you can. They are completely healthy for your garden, won't require as much water, and won't harm your pets in the slightest.
Pine needles work great as an organic material because of their availability. Just make sure to chop them up into tiny pieces. Grass clippings are also effective because of their high nitrogen content. They do tend to smell, so it's wise to mix them often with other organic materials. Other materials you might consider using include carrot peelings, wood ashes, apple cores, coffee grounds, and deadheaded flowers.
3. Invest in Compost Pails
So that you have a safe, secure place to store your compost materials, you need to invest in compost pails. Their lids seal shut completely to prevent any materials from spilling out accidentally.
They also vary in size depending on how much compost you plan on creating. If you're worried about odors developing -- particularly when using food materials -- you'll be happy to know that pails with carbon filters are available. They help eradicate odors, which is important if you plan on keeping these pails inside your home.
Compost is such a crucial ingredient you can add to your garden when it needs extra nutrients. Just be sure you're strategic with the compost you use, how it's placed, and what it's stored in. Then, your garden can remain healthy over the years.
