Composting Tips For Organic Gardening

You don’t have to be an expert gardener to know that organic compost is superior to chemical-based fertilizers. For one thing, going organic is environmentally friendly. You can grow healthy plants without depending on pesticides or insecticides. Organic fertilizer is also kinder to the soil and plants. There’s no chemical that could burn or destroy plant leaves and roots.

A good compost pile should have a balanced level of nitrogen and carbon. Most organic matters – including kitchen scraps and manure – contains nitrogen. On the other hand, carbon is found in brown organic matters like wood chips, dead leaves etc. You need an equal portion by weight of nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich organic matter to achieve a balanced compost pit.

If you are planning for an all-organic approach to gardening, we have compiled great items that will enhance your compost pile.

Banana Peels

Composting is a great way to utilize leftovers and fruit peels. Banana peels make an excellent addition to a compost pile. The peels contain high levels of essential minerals. It’s a great compost material for rose gardeners too. Just bury the banana peels near the base of your rose plant. Various microbes will break down the banana peels to release the nutrients into the soil. Using banana peels to care for rose gardens will improve the plants’ blooms.

Wood Ash

Got a lot of wood ash? Don’t dump it in the trash. Instead, scoop the ashes and put it in a pail. You can disperse a handful of wood ash to acidic soil. Wood ash will neutralize the acidity of the soil. It also works as an organic fertilizer for plants growing in alkaline soil. What’s more, wood ash is a rich source of calcium and phosphorus. Calcium prevents tomato plants from rotting. Phosphorus boosts the nutrient value of the soil. To disperse wood ash, add 20 pounds of the stuff per 1,000 feet of garden space.

Coffee Ground

Don’t throw coffee grounds in the garbage. You can re-use it to boost the nitrogen content of your soil! Collect the coffee ground in a clean container. Then, spread a handful near acid-loving plants like blueberry bushes, roses, and tomatoes. If your soil is alkaline, you can use coffee grounds to change the pH of your soil. Finally, if you have a compost pit, add the coffee grounds too. Let the stuff break down together with organic matter like grass clippings or potato peels. This will result in black soil. Black soil is a nutrient-dense soil ideal for growing vegetables!

Eggshells

Egg shells are a classic fertilizer. Plants just can’t get enough of them! Just add them to your compost pile together with other plant matter to decompose. Just make sure you rinse the egg shells very well. This keeps stray dogs or cats from thrashing your compost pit. You can add the shells partially broken or grounded into bigger bits.

You can also crush the egg shells and spread it directly to the plants. Eggshells contain high levels of calcium. It also repels pests like slugs and snails. Eggshell protects the plants by acting like diotomaceous earth. The compounds in egg shells will kill the slugs and snails without any chemicals!