Home gardening Compost need not be messy

Press, 26 August 1977, Page 9

Home gardening Compost need not be messy

M. Lusty

If you grow plants, whether in pots or in the garden, then compost is a valuable commodity to have on hand. Predominantly it acts as a soil conditioner, improving the water-holding capacity. assisting to maintain tilth or friability, aiding aeration, helping plant stability, and encouraging root development and uptake of plant food and moisture. To a lesser degree, composts provide plant food, but this is very much dependent on the initial contents. Gone are the days when most gardeners were able to build and use massive

heaps throughout the year. This is because gardens are smaller, compostable matrial is less easily come by, time always seems limited, and often there is neither the inclination for it or the place to establish them. However, it is surprising how quickly and easily a regular quantity can be made available. The first step is to avoid making the heap too big. An area 1.25-1.5 m high by 0.75-lm square will provide a good turnover in a few weeks instead of several months to a year. Various concrete, wooden, fibreglass and polyurethane structures are available for those who do not wish to erect or improvise a bin or area of their own making.

Some form of coarse material, such as brush or stems, should be placed on the bottom. Thereafter, compostable matter should be deposited in even layers to maintain even pressure, warmth, and moisture, and ensure decomposition throughout. The range of material which can be used includes all organic household rubbish, including the contents of the vacuum ciearner, grass clippings, leaves, weeds (but not perennials such as twitch, convolvulus and Californian thistle) straw, all forms oi animal manure, sawdust and wood wastes from untreated sources, hedge clippings, nut shells (a surprisingly good

source of nitrogen), sheep dags, shoody, and crop remains. Large refuse is best chooped up into small segments, and this applies particularly to such items as sweet-corn husks and cabbage stems. Moisture is desirable at all stages, but it is neither necessary nor desirable to go beyond this.

An accelerant, such as a sprinkle of ammonium sul phate, over less succulent material such as leaves is recommended, and one or two of the proprietary activators are useful in conjunction with the wellmade compost heap. When the pile has reached the desired height with a little compaction on the way, top it with a good layer, say 7cm, of soil. Now start the next heap. Invert the initial heap in one month’s time. If it has been well made, break-down should be fully evident by the end of this period.

It is not necessary to wait until all composed material is small and crumbly. It can be used in rough form, provided it is not in a “raw” state. It is essential to ensure that the heap does not dry out, and where it is situated so that rain cannot fall on it, or in a dry season, a very light spraying with the hose is recommended.

Fly menace, should it occur, can be dealt with by spraying with carbaryl.