Compost is the result of lovely green and organic matter such as leaves, kitchen waste, vegetables, fruit, manure and grass cuttings, etc. once broken down (decomposed) into humus after a few weeks.
One of the top ways to give your planting soil an improvement in texture and growing health is by adding high quality organic compost. By doing this you will speed up the yielding process, improve quality of your garden in general, and give trees and shrubs a much-needed nutrient injection. But is it as easy as that? Knowing how to add compost to your garden’s plants can aid them to thrive and flourish, but your method and process is just as important.
There are several ways to add compost to plants – this article will give you a few alternative methods that will benefit different circumstances. There is no single solution, but rather a best way according to your garden’s requirements. Here’s our advice on the best way to add compost to your plants in a few different ways.
Where to Get Your Organic Compost From
It’s completely feasible to ‘grow’ your own organic compost, and the majority of experienced gardeners in the UK do just that. However it requires time, know-how and patience. We actually wrote a quick and easy guide on how to grow your own organic compost from scratch, which is worth checking out! It’s almost as easy as putting all your biodegradable waste into a container, stirring the concoction to allow it to oxidise until it’s decomposed enough for use … almost!
If DIY composting isn’t for you, then head on over to our online store to check out our range of organic composts. For example, our Mushroom Compost is ideal for soil conditioning, mulching, breaking up heavy soils and tree and shrub planting.
Till the Entire Garden
Tilling is the process of turning the soil over so some of the lower soil comes up and some of the upper soil goes down.The best time for tilling your garden is spring, as before you do so your soil must be both dry enough and warm enough for it to be effective.
For gardens that are in a particularly poor condition, it’s beneficial to dig up your existing plants and set them aside in pots. You can then mix your existing soil with plenty of nutrient-rich high quality organic compost, providing your garden the fresh start that it needs.
This complete overhaul should only be considered if you’re noticing poor results with existing plants or if you are seeing this as a labour of love! It’s going to take quite some time, but it may take your efforts to the next level.
Give Tired Gardens a Lift
For most gardens that just need an injection of quality over a complete restructuring from top to bottom, it’s more than enough to add a thick layer of compost on top of your existing soil.
The recommended amount varies, but a couple of inches should be more than enough. You can always top up the amount of compost in subsequent weeks. Monitor performance and alter accordingly – the key is to get to know your garden and giving it what it needs. This ‘sixth sense’ will only come with time and experience.
Dig Your Organic Compost Into Your Garden Beds
When you’re digging your garden beds, make sure you add your compost in at this stage. Give it a good mix with the rest of your planting soil. This will give it an added nudge in the right direction, giving your seedlings a the best chance of a good and healthy start in life. Make sure your compost is fully broken down before you mix it with your existing soil. Compost is usually ready when it’s a dark brown colour, crumbly and has an earthy smell. It’s not ready if it smells of ammonia, or if there’s any signs of mould.
This strategy works particularly well if you’re working with a garden that is being designed from scratch, as it means you won’t need to dig up existing plants; although it’s not a problem if you do have to dig up existing plants – it just takes more time and effort!
Compost as Planting Soil
There are several plants that grow extremely well when planted directly in compost. Pumpkin or tomato seeds are prime examples of this and you should see some excellent results. It’s worth reading up on which seeds and plants respond best to direct organic compost planting, as some will find the acidic or alkaline consistency of your compost too strong.
General Garden Compost Tips
There are several kinds of garden compost you can get your hands on, but the main piece of advice we can give you is to invest in quality over second rate composting products. Whether you’re looking at mushroom compost bought from an external supplier or whether you are building your own organic compost pile, it’s important that you keep quality at the forefront of your thoughts at all times.
Organic compost piles that are built half-heartedly or without patience will not yield desired results. Remember that it will take weeks for your ingredients to decompose – do you really want to wait all this time for subpar results?
For more information on gardening and landscaping supplies please contact us on 01306 877540 or visit our online store.