A good (put) compost composed of diversified materials will make an excellent amendment. It will contain all the nutrients essential to plants. The organisms decomposers in the compost will inhabit the soil and enrich it. The poor and non-fertile soils will benefit very quickly from compost.
Mature compost is suitable for almost all plants, so there is no risk to use it everywhere, on the lawn, in the vegetable garden, as well as for the flower beds. The shrubs and fruit trees will grow rapidly if they receive a shovel of mature compost annually. Compost also works miracles in the composition of mixtures used as potting soil for plants indoor and seedlings.
Mature Compost
mature Compost will act almost immediately upon application because chemical compounds it contains are soluble in water. Yet the qualities of fertilizers will be at their maximum after three weeks of application; in summary, this means that the result will be apparent from the first year of harvest. Apply mature compost three years in a row and the appearance of the soil will be exchanged. The plants will be in excellent health. The maintenance efforts will be reduced.
Compost can be used in manure or spreading. The more the compost is ripe, the more it will have to be mixed, put it deep in the ground for it to be accessible by the root system of plants. The less it is decomposed, the more it will have to be left on the surface for decomposition to continue. If you only have a little mature compost, you have to spread it sparingly, that is to say, it can be deposited in the furrow of the seedlings or directly in planting holes.
For seedlings, the compost must be sifted for very fine, while in the case of a transplant, we can put the compost directly in the bottom of the hole. This last way of doing things will be particularly effective for plants that are in great need of fertilizers.
You can expect from 1 to 2 kilograms of mature compost per square meter of a vegetable garden. For the second crop of the season only, 1 kg will be needed. The vegetables will be able to receive compost according to their needs, while the berry shrubs (raspberries, strawberries, ground cherries, etc.) will be able to receive only after the harvest of the fruits. Too vigorous growth would lead to leaves to become fragile and vulnerable to disease. As the compost harvest, especially the first year, will not be enough, and that is when the soil really needs it, here are some indications to better use it.
Lawn or Surface Treatment
Air first the surface on which the compost will be spread. Spread with a rake an even layer of 3 mm to 1 cm of compost previously sieved. It is better to cut shorter grass to maximize the effect of compost and wait for a period of overcast weather so that the sun does not burn the elements nutritious.
To facilitate the task, it is easier to square the surface of small piles and then spread them star-shaped. It will then be necessary water, which will allow mature compost to pass through the stubble and reach the first layer of earth. So distributed in the ventilation holes, compost will keep the soil moist for a long time.
To Treat Diseases of the Lawn
The turf of the lawn is subject to attack by fungi. Moniliasis and fusarin can easily be removed if detected early enough. When the lawn seems to be faded in one place, 1.5 cm of compost on the affected surface and does not water for a few days. Ideally, there should be no precipitation on the treated site. It is necessary to treat larger than the affected area and use mature compost for this surgery.
Flower beds and vegetable garden For plants that are demanding, add 2.5 cm of compost and mix with soil using gardening tools. Water for a long time to saturate all the roots. For new flower beds, it is necessary to put 5 cm of compost and mix up to 10 cm deep.
Tree Plantation
When planting a tree, you have to work and fertilize the soil up to five times the diameter he will need. In the hole, it will be necessary to put a third of compost and two-thirds of the land. Plant the tree and water well.
Injury to Trees
Compost organisms can destroy pathogens, you can so use it to heal the wounds of trees that might become infected. Affixing an ointment on the tree will help ward off the dangers of infection while the plant is regenerating. Put 2.5 cm of wet compost on a diameter a little larger than the wound and cover with a bandage made of biodegradable fabric.
The wound will heal after a few months; if the dressing does has not broken down in the meantime, remove it. Directly around plants or during planting For the plants that will need it, you can apply the compost directly around these. Put 5 cm and stir lightly. Ideally, cover the added compost of mulch to help keep the nutrients in the soil that we will have enriched.
It is interesting to put compost (a third of compost two-thirds of soil) in the holes of the plants to be transplanted, then take out the annuals from the boxes, for example. This way of doing things will bring significant fertilization on the entire soil, year after year.
For Sowing – Lawn Care
The compost will protect the seeds and young plants against spores from mushrooms. The seedbed should not contain more than one-third of compost. We can put a little more on adult plants.
On Sandy or light-textured Soils
Young compost can be used more easily for sandy soils. In the case of denser soils, mature compost will be preferable because fertilizer is slowly being felt and one could quickly saturate the soil. On the other hand, in light-textured soils, the penetration action is very fast, sometimes too much, and the plants do not have time to absorb the nutrients that pass.
Fertilize During Plant Growth
During the summer you can put young compost around the plants; Warning! he must distance them at least 5 cm from the stem. Put the compost on the surface and cover it well with mulch.
For the use of large quantities of compost
Large amounts of compost should be incorporated in the fall. Small doses can be incorporated at any time. Keep the compost moist until use: it is important to use compost immediately after harvest or at least keep it moist. Once dried, the compost becomes mineralized and the decomposers die. The mineralization of the compost makes it become soil! It is also recommended to water the soil when applying compost.
Storing the Finished Compost
Compost can be kept, but not very long. And to do that, we have to follow techniques to keep it moist in order to preserve the elements it contains. It will keep at most a year, after which it will mineralize.
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