Composting

Composting is the biological breakdown of organic matter. Composts are a good source of humus and a good way to recycle plant refuse from the yard or garden. However, backyard composting may not kill weed seeds, disease organisms, or underground stems or roots of such plants as quackgrass, morning glory, or Canada thistle. Do not put diseased plant materials in your compost. Fruit and vegetable wastes are good compost materials, but do not compost meat and fatty food. If you are unsure of what to compost, contact a Charlotte irrigation company to discuss your options.

Some composting methods:

Many gardeners compost using a slow, low-temperature method. Yard wastes are piled in a heap and allowed to compost in place. This method requires little effort, but it does not generate enough heat to kill weed seeds or disease organisms. Often a year or more is needed to produce compost by the slow method.
To compost quickly and generate the high temperatures needed to kill most weed seeds, you must maintain conditions favorable for the high-temperature compost bacteria. Contact a Charlotte irrigation company to discuss your options. This requires:

a pile of organic material at least 3' high x 3' wide x 3' deep,
balancing high-carbon and high-nitrogen plant materials,
chopping materials to increase their surface area,
keeping the pile aerated by turning,
maintaining adequate moisture.

If you do not have enough nitrogen-rich plant materials to compost rapidly, you may need to add nitrogen, using fertilizer or animal manure. No other additives are necessary. The high-temperature method produces high-quality compost quickly, but it requires much more effort and care than the slow method.
You may dig organic materials directly into fallow (unplanted) areas of your garden. This is a good way to improve your soil using food wastes.

Commercial composts:

Composts are also commercially produced on a large scale from yard debris (woody prunings and grass clippings) and food waste. They vary widely in nutrient availability. Composts that look woody are usually low in nitrogen. Like sawdust, they require additional nitrogen when mixed into the soil.
Commercial composts are screened to separate particle sizes. Mix fine compost with soil to increase organic matter. Use coarse compost for mulching trees and shrubs. If you are unsure of what your composting options are, call a Charlotte irrigation company today!