How to make COMPOST FOR YOUR GARDEN

Compost is an excellent way to recycle various organic materials and enrich your garden soil. Here are some simple tips to help build your compost heap.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• leaves
• yard clippings
• dead flowers
• vacuum cleaner fluff
• kitchen scraps
• ammonium sulfate
• soil
• organic fertilizer
• wire netting
• wooden stakes

1. Begin the compost pile on bare soil. Make the first layer about 5 feet square and about 1 foot deep. Press down and water well. Sprinkle on a handful of ammonium sulfate. Cover with a 2 inch layer of soil.

2. As you build your pile using 9 to 12 inch layers, keep it contained using wire netting and wooden stakes. Sprinkle each layer with organic fertilizer. Cover the top with plastic.

3. Stop when the heap is about 4 feet tall. Cover it will soil and keep it moist. When it has shrunk to about a foot high, move the top layer to the inside of the pile. The material will be come dark and crumbly in a few months and be ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use woody materials, diseased plants, perennial-weed roots, annual-weed seeds, protein and dairy foods, and nothing containing grease.

[HardworkinJudy]

on 9/11/2008 I've been wanting to know how to do this. Thanks.

[tabrewis]

on 9/3/2008 Great article - I've been very interested in my own composting since we bought our house. Thanks!

[TxLady]

on 9/2/2008 What an interesting article, Thanks!