Even the most experienced gardener will have trouble with their soil from time to time. However, many soil problems can be fixed by adding compost to the garden’s soil.
What is Compost?
Simply put, compost is decomposed organic material. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that there are 3 basic ingredients within this material: water, greens, and browns.
The browns provide the carbon for the decomposition process. These materials include things like twigs and dead leaves.
The greens provide nitrogen to the decomposition process. These materials include things like vegetable waste, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.
Finally, the water provides moisture to the compost. This helps the organic matter to break down.
Compost and Gardening
Compost is often referred to as “black gold” by gardeners. This is because it provides many benefits to the garden’s soil.
From large gardens to indoor plants with potting soil, compost can help improve the overall soil which will allow for better and healthier plant growth.
Compost is known to have many benefits. These include:
- Water conservation: The NRDC explains that soil’s water-retention capabilities increase when additional organic matter is introduced. This helps gardeners save water while still growing thriving gardens.
- Lowers Carbon Footprint: Biogas is released when organic matter is broken down in a landfill. This by-product is about 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide, NRDC reports. However, if allowed to go to compost, the organic matter undergoes a different decomposition process that does not create this harmful biogas.
- Reduces Waste: Composting is a way to recycle organic waste. By composting at home, individuals help reduce the amount of waste in landfills while also turning it into something useful.
By composting at home, gardeners can help their garden flourish. Stay tuned to learn how to start composting at home!
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