In The Garden — Some Composting Facts And Tips
By AMY MUNCY
Advanced Master Gardener
WARSAW — Many of you may already know about what you can and what you should not compost. I have found the following items left out keeps the compost cleaner and able to use quicker. What I mean is that you can compost anything that is natural but in order to use the compost in a garden, it would be better to not add the following to your compost pile.
Meat, bones, dairy, fats and oils, diseased plants, colored paper, or cat/dog waste. Cat/dog waste may carry diseases. Most gerbil and rabbit waste is OK as they are vegetarians. People who have chickens can use the waste and old bedding in their compost. As long as they stir it often and compost it for at least 6-9 months before using it.
There are going to be larger items you need to dispose of in another way, and as I had previously commented that I usually burn my problem pieces. Not everyone can burn things in their yard. Many of my friends from town don’t compost because they don’t know if they can. There is information/laws about what you can and can’t do in a town at your town’s courthouse. Always check with the authorities before you do anything. Permits are needed for some things. And always call your local utility notification service before you dig. It’s free and you don’t want to dig into a pipe or live wire.
Also, about disposal of leaves (if you don’t compost them), large branches or large amounts of twigs, grass clippings, these items are usually picked up on certain days from your curb if you live in a town. I was fortunate to grow up and live in the country as an adult for several years. I have never experienced town pick up of vegetation/branches. Although I understand that many towns will chip up and compost all of these items and return it back to the community at some point. This maybe something to look into for you. Gardens can always use a fresh batch of compost about once every year or two.
Compost was added as the sod was tilled in the picture of the veggie garden I grew a couple of years ago. It is not a good picture of the entire garden. But look at the amount of peppers on the bush. The garden was mainly a salsa garden. That was the first and only year that veggie garden was made and grown. I could hardly keep up with the canning/freezing and the garden was only a 25-by 25-foot garden. So, I know anyone can do this.
I used that same garden space for plants that I had to move for our new septic system. Yes, I added more compost the year I moved the new plants. That was the very next year after the veggie garden and it turned out beautiful.
Compost is very versatile and I use it everywhere. Make compost tea so you can fertilize with it. Spread thinly and rake into your sod to give it a boost or add to established gardens and rake it in to brighten the plants there. Remove any mulch and replace with fresh after raking the compost into the soil. I will discuss vermicomposting in my next article and a few more tips that make composting worth the effort.
Amy Muncy was born in Wabash County and lived there for close to 40 years. Muncy grew up in the country, has always enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. She has been gardening since a small girl. She moved to Kosciusko County in 2000. She is a master gardener intern at this point, but will be a full master gardener before long.