Having your own compost heap is like having your very own garden doctor on hand.
By mixing a nice thick layer of compost into your flower beds you will not only be improving the water retention and aeration of your soil but also be adding much needed nutrients to feed your plants.
How can you make a compost heap?
It’s really much easier that most think… Here is a quick 7 step plan.
- Firstly find a warm sheltered corner in your garden.
- To start with a compost heap will need organic material. Organic materials contain carbon and nitrogen. Brown materials contain carbon, examples of these are dry leaves, dry grass, straw and small twigs cut up etc. Green materials contain the nitrogen, such as green leaves when cutting and trimming shrubs, green grass clippings or kitchen scraps like vegetable peels, tea bags, egg shells and fruit.
- You will need to add equal parts of green and browns to ensure the correct ratio of carbon and nitrogen to be created in your compost.
- Then you need to get some manure (sorry but it’s the golden ingredient), kraal manure or chicken manure will do.
- Once you have equal amount of each of the above you can begin to layer the brown, then green and finally manure in equal parts and then start again brown, green and manure.
- Once this has been done water the heap so that the compost can start mixing and breaking down.
- The compost needs to be loosened up and aerated at least once every second week.
Within two months your compost will be ready to use and within weeks you will see the exciting benefits of your efforts… And you will be one step closer to creating the garden of your dreams.
Some wastes to avoid throwing into your compost heap…
- Weeds
- Diseased or insect infested plants
- Dairy products or meat
- Pets waste