Makin’
dirt!
COMPOST—the end product of a complex
feeding pattern involving hundreds of different organisms, including bacteria, fungi,
worms and insects—is one of nature’s
best mulches. What remains after these
organisms break down organic materials
is the rich, earthy substance upon which
your garden will thrive.
MATERIAL
Algae, seaweed and
lake moss
USE IT?
Yes. Good nutrient source.
Ashes from coal
or charcoal
Using compost improves so il structure, texture and aeration and increases
the soil’s water-holding capacity. Adding
compost improves soil fertility and stimu -
lates healthy root development in plants.
The organic matter provided in compost
provides food for microorganisms, which
keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced
condition, and nitrogen, potassium and
phosphorus will be produced naturally.
Contrary to popular belief, not every -
thing can get tossed into a composting
pile. Even certain organic matter can be
harmful. The following chart outlines
some of the basic do’s and don’ts of
composting materials.—T. Foster Jones
No. May contain materials bad for plants.
Ashes from untreated,
unpainted wood
Beverages, rinse water
Cardboard
Cat droppings or cat litter
Coffee grounds and filters
Cornstalks, corncobs
Diseased plants
Dog droppings
Dryer lint
Eggshells
Fish scraps
Hair
Lime (the mineral
substance, not the citrus)
Careful. Fine amounts at most. Can make the pile
too alkaline and suppress composting.
Yes. Good to moisten the middle of the pile.
Yes. Shred into small pieces. If you have a lot,
consider recycling instead.
No. May contain disease organisms.
Yes. Worms love them.
Yes.
No.
No.
Yes.
Yes. Breaks down slowly. Crushing shells helps.
No. Can attract rodents and cause a stinky pile.
Yes. Scatter so it isn’t in clumps.
No. Can kill composting action.
Manure (horse, cow,
pig, sheep, goat,
chicken, rabbit)
Yes. Great source of nitrogen.
Meat, fat, grease,
oils, bones
No. Avoid (see “Fish scraps”).
Milk, cheese, yogurt
Careful. Put it deep in the pile to avoid
attracting animals.
Newspaper
Yes. Shred it so it breaks down easier. Don’t add
slick colored pages.
Oak leaves
Pine needles
Sawdust and
wood shavings
Sod
Yes. Don’t overload the pile, as they decompose slowly.
Yes. Don’t overload the pile, as they decompose slowly.
Yes. Don’t use too much, and don’t use treated wood.
Weeds
Careful. Make sure the pile is hot enough, so grass
doesn’t continue growing.
Careful. Dry them out on the pavement, then add later.
In areas with a cold winter, spring is the best time to start the compost pile in earnest. There’s an abundance of grass clippings and trimmings. Summer is the time the compost pile is working at its peak range
of decomposition. Cover and store the finished compost, or use it and start another batch. With enough
organic waste, you can produce several batches of highly managed compost during the summer.—TFJ
o utl divooinr g
Teeny
greeny
PHOTODISC
City life doesn’t mean
an end to digging in the
dirt. The trick with a small
garden is balance.
I BEGAN STUDYING urban gardening—
how to grow in small environments such as
balconies and tiny backyards—in college,
and have worked ever since to overcome the
“brown thumb” that I inherited. Here are
some basic tips I picked up along the way.
Don’t overdo it
It’s not likely that you can fit a gazebo,
vegetable, herb and flower gardens, a water
fountain and a couple of shade trees on a
patio-size space. Prioritize what you would
like, then work out a plan for getting them in
there, as opposed to cramming too many
things in place, only to have them fight each
other for the available sunlight and soil.
Be a sundial
If you know how many hours of sunlight
each patch of ground receives, and what
amount of light your various plants require,
you can sketch out a plan for laying out your
plants with regard to their sunlight needs.
Remember to consider the impact of tall
plants, large shrubs and flowers that cast a
shadow and place them where they won’t
block light to other plants that need it.
Climb the walls
If you’ve got walls around your garden, use
them. A wide variety of flowers, fruits and vegetables—seedless grapes, sugar snap peas,
climbing roses, honeysuckle—can grow up a
wall and need minimal ground space to thrive.
Think long term
Be sure to consider the long-term size of
whatever you are planting to avoid outgrowing your small site. Choose naturally smaller
plants or dwarf varieties when possible. At
most, one larger tree or shrub should be more
than enough for most small gardens.—TFJ
The Costco Connection
For more gardening tips and ideas, see the
book selection at your local warehouse.
