What Is Gritty Compost?
Gardeners use compost in the garden to bring vital nutrients back to the soil and help reduce their environmental impact. Common additives to compost bins include yard wastes such as grass clippings and leaves, and vegetative table scraps such as peelings. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Description
-
Gritty compost has a more coarse texture than traditional compost, which is full of organic matter. Commercial grit, such as chicken grit, is available in varying sizes, according to Dave's Garden, and may be made from pulverized granite, limestone or oyster shells. Grit alone may applied to the garden, however certain plants may benefit from organic compost mixed with grit.
Uses
-
Succulents prefer well-draining soil. Use gritty compost around plants that require better drainage, such as succulents and cactus. Gritty compost prevents water logging and root rot.
-
Compost Types
-
Example of a traditional compost bin Vermicomposting uses red worms to speed up the decomposition process. According to the National Wildlife Foundation, gritty soil helps the red worms to digest organic matter. Since worms do not have teeth, they use the grit to help break down the materials, according to How to Compost. Add gritty materials, such as a handful of sand or crushed egg shells, to encourage proper digestion. Regular composting, which relies on natural decomposition processes, does not require grit.
Drainage Testing
-
Test the compost for adequate drainage by picking up a handful of the compost and wringing it out. Organic compost will have the dampness of a wrung-out sponge, according to Martha Stewart, while gritty soil will feel sandy and will not clump up when wet.
Tip
-
Add more grit to the compost bin only after you harvest the worm castings, or worm manure. The amount of grit needed will depend upon the size of the vermicompost bin.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of velkr0 Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Randy Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Tim Parkinson
