Composting In Your Own Backyard
Composting is the natural breakdown or materials of an organic nature. Compost is the rich organic soil that is made as microorganisms decompose yard and kitchen waste.
People compost for various reasons for example, saving on water, fertilizer and supplies for the garden. It will definitely keep materials that are useful out of the landfills. It aids with keeping the pollutants from filling the air and it will improve the garden and lawn.
You have decided to compost in your backyard, now what’s next? You will need to choose the materials that will be used in your recipe for your compost. You will need a few materials for your compost before building your compost. You will need a shovel or pitchfork, a compost bin
You can use things such as greens, because it is nitrogen rich. Other materials that are helpful are eggshells, fresh hay, coffee ground and the filters, grass clippings, tea bags, scraps from vegetables and fruit.
You can also use the browns which are rich with carbon and dry. This included branches that are chopped up or shredded. Also included in this list are paper towels, leaves, shredded paper and straw. Soil is another great addition to your compost, because it contains microorganism that is necessary for composition.
There are also things that need to be avoided and not placed in your compost, because it will be more harmful than helpful. Things such as charcoal ashes and plants that have been treated with herbicides or pesticides should not be added to your compost. Do not add any meats, bones, cooking oil or dairy products. In addition do not use pine needles, sick or diseased plants or magnolia leaves. The reason that you should not utilize these products is because they can contaminate the compost. They can attract mice and other pest as well as cause a very foul odor.
Once you decide to compost in your backyard you will first need to choose the location for the compost pile. This area should be able to drain well and shaded. It would be best to use a compost bin. Be sure to place this area on a level or bare earth. After choosing the location there are a few steps that you need to be doing in order to build your compost. The pile that you build will need to be a mixture of both nitrogen and carbon.
It would be best to mix about 75 percent carbon material and 25 percent nitrogen material. Follow this up with water, oxygen, composter organism and heat. Using all of this will make the compost happen. After you do all that is needed and your compost puts off an earthy smell or is dark brown in color this is when you will know that your compost is ready for use. It takes up to 6 weeks to 1 year for your backyard compost to be fully developed. There are three main uses for the finished compost. It can be used as potting mix, soil amendment and mulch.
Getting the Most From Your Garden
Getting the most from your garden means maintaining your garden as perfectly as possible. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to spend every waking hour outside tending to your garden. Adding a few things to your daily gardening routing will help to ensure that you do get as much as possible out of your garden.
One of the best ways to make sure you get the most out of your garden is to pay attention to the growing seasons. There are some plants that grow better in very early spring while others grow well closer to the end of the summer and into the early fall. Researching the different possible plants will be a lot of fun and it will mean you’ll be able to use your garden to its fullest potential every year.
One concern that people have about their gardens is wasting a lot of water each day keeping the plants moist enough. This is especially true if you live in an area where water is expensive or scarce. You can put down some mulch to keep in more of the water. This can save you a lot of money without letting your plants get thirsty.
After you’re done eating some of the vegetables you’ve harvested don’t throw away the leftovers or the uneaten portions. A better plan is to put them out in your garden as compost. This will create a cycle of healthier plants. You’ll also be saving a lot of money over buying expensive store bought fertilizers.
There are many natural and fast ways to get rid of pests in your garden as well. You can manually pick them off or spray them off with water. Whatever you do, try to stay away from chemical pest control because that can lead to health problems for your family and it adds to stress on the environment.
Even if you’re really strapped for time and don’t feel like you can maintain your garden it’s a good idea to do a little each day. You might think it’s easier to block out larger chunks of time, but it often turns out that the days escape you and you might not get around to it. When you schedule it in a little each day it won’t even feel like you’re having to work hard to maintain your garden!
This maintenance includes making sure you are taking out any diseased plants or dead foliage. The healthier you keep your plants the better producers they will be for you. Harvest the vegetables right away instead of leaving them to get too big and rotting.
Getting the most out of your garden means that making it a priority in your life. That doesn’t mean it has to take over your life! Spend some time each day maintaining your garden and you’ll be richly rewarded with great plants.
Color In The Garden
How does your garden look? If it’s dull or you’re just ready for a change you might be interested in learning about color in the garden. The more you’re able to leverage the different colors of nature the more beautiful your garden will be.
The truth is that you don’t have to work very hard to get the beauty you want in your garden. Mother nature has done most of the work for us already! All you need to do is think about what colors of nature you want to experience in your backyard.
Many people like to focus on the different greens that are out there. Even though green is a single color there are various shades and hues of green. Dark green can look absolutely gorgeous when mixed together with litter shades.
You can also choose to focus on other single colors. Try collecting flowers that come in different shades of red. You’ll turn a lot of heads with the vibrancy of red. It can also be beautiful to gather blue flowers. These are more rare and add a lot of interest.
As pretty as focusing on one color in your garden can be most people will want to combine different colors. A red, white, and blue theme garden looks stunning around the fourth of July. Soft pinks, reds, and purples create a very feminine look.
You could also choose to plant a random mixture. There are wildflower seed packets that contain many different kinds of flowers in different colors. This is a nice way to add a lot of color to your backyard if you’ve been feeling like it’s boring. Don’t worry about it all matching, these mixtures always look great.
You can get as in depth with choosing different colors for your garden as you want. Some people will really get into it making sure that each color combination evokes a specific emotion or feeling.
If you’re at a loss for color combination ideas you can head to your local florist. They are masters at knowing which flowers and colors to put together. Take a step back at all of the offerings and see if anything stands out to you.
Another idea is to visit neighbor’s yards. If someone else has a “greener” thumb than you have they might be a great resource to turn to when you need help deciding on the best colors for your garden.
Don’t forget that vegetables add color too! When you’re growing vegetables your first thought probably isn’t about which colors look best, but you can make make a conscious effort to combine the best looking vegetables to create a dramatic effect in your yard.
Adding color to the garden is an amazing way to add beauty to your yard. You can really have fun with the natural colors that are out there. Check around for inspiration and get started with your own garden today.