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Bitten by the Bug?
•“The Rodale Book of Composting,” by the editors of Rodale Press.
•“The Mulch Book,” by Stu Campbell (Storey Publishing).
•“Worms Eat My Garbage,” by Mary Apelhof (Flower).
•“Yardening,” by Jeff and Liz Ball (MacMillan).
❻WHAT TO DO WITH THE STUFF NOW THAT IT’S ALL
CHIPPED & SHREDDED
The chips, shreds and mulch you make are valuable organic materials for your lawn and garden. Put them to good and immediate
Landscape & Garden
Use the reduced materials to make a garden path and to edge saplings or shrubs. An inch or so holds in moisture, moderates temperatures and erosion, and reduces weed and turf growth. They also protect exposed root systems and tender bulbs from unpredictable elements.
Composting
Whole books have been written on the subject. A good compost pile will not— contrary to popular
Your basic compost pile is a three layer salad that is 4’ x 4’ x 4’. Simply put it in a pile, or dig a pit or a trench. Some fancy containers speed things along and look nicer.
Things you can’t use? Animal wastes, bones and meat scraps.
BROWN, 3” - 5”
Some old leaves or twiggy brush on the bottom helps air enter the pile.
GREEN, 3” - 5”
Leafy,
SOIL OR COMPOST STARTER, 1”
This layer of
Wet the pile as needed to keep the center the consistency of a damp sponge. Continue to add layers until it is up to four feet high and deep. Turn
the pile once a week or so with a shovel or pitch fork. Turning and wetting the pile is what the pros call “fast” or “hot” composting, with temperatures inside the pile reaching 160° F.
How Long Until Soup’s On?
Depending on how well it is tended, in two to four weeks the compost is ready for use in your garden. Better still, you can’t “spoil” the recipe. If offending odors emerge, it may be due to too much moisture, green materials, or critter droppings. Mix in more brown, turn the pile often, or cover it with plastic to keep it dry.