How To Use Homemade Compost That You Created?
If you follow all of the steps correctly, you should be able to have completed homemade compost in three to six months. Depending on your environment and the method you select, composting can take a long time. The color of your final compost should be dark. It should crumble easily between your fingertips, allowing air and moisture to enter the soil while also draining excess water. To destroy pathogens and weed seeds that may be present in the compost, they must be heated to a certain temperature. Let’s jump in.
Add Homemade Compost To The Soil
The optimum time to add homemade compost to the soil is in the fall, so it has time to break down over the winter and be ready for planting season. If you don’t have the time, you can even use half-finished compost instead of waiting for it to finish. The homemade compost does not need to be dug into the soil. Simply place it on top of the soil and it will gradually be absorbed. If you’re concerned about the compost drying out, till it into the soil using a rototiller or garden tractor. It’s far better to apply compost to the soil as soon as it’s ready because it tends to leak and lose its value if left alone.
Add Homemade Compost To The Plants
Your homemade compost can be used for a variety of plants, including seedlings, potted plants, crops, shrubs, and trees. Compost can assist enhance the composition of your soil, particularly if it contains too much clay or sand. You can plow the compost 3-4 inches into the soil to improve it if you don’t mind the hard work. If you don’t have a rototiller or a garden tractor, you can simply spread the compost on top of the soil and till it in using a rototiller or a garden tractor. If you use no-till gardening, you may just spread a layer of compost on top of the soil, which will eventually be absorbed.
Seedlings
Seedlings require adequate nutrients, which compost may provide. Mix one-third compost, one-third soil, and one-third coarse sand to make a suitable seedling mixture.
Perennials
If you’re putting together a perennial garden bed, dig an 8-inch-wide, 112-inch-deep trench and fill it with compost. You can use compost as a mulch on top of the soil if you’ve already planted perennials. You risk injuring the roots if you try to incorporate it into the soil.
Annual Plants
If you’re making a garden bed for annual plants and vegetables, cover the soil with 2 inches of compost and mix it in 6 to 8 inches deep. If there are already plants in the soil, you can just use the compost as a mulch on top of the soil; otherwise, you risk injuring the plants and their roots.
Mulch
If you have a lot of homemade compost, you may use it as a garden mulch and cover your soil with a thick layer of it. This will shield the plants from weeds while also providing adequate aeration and hydration to the roots and soil microorganisms.
Shrubs And Trees
Around the base of the shrubs and trees, add 1 to 2 inches of compost and gently mix it into the soil. For trees, you can make the compost towards the base so that the beneficial nutrients leached during generating the compost can reach the roots.
Potted Plants
Compost can be used to make decent potting soil. To make decent potting soil, combine one-third compost and two-thirds of soil. If you’re adding it to the plants, sprinkle one inch of compost on top of the soil and lightly water it.
Lawns
If you’re just getting started with a lawn, add 2 inches of compost to the soil and thoroughly till it before planting the seeds. If you already have a lawn, simply spread a fine layer of compost on top and water it thoroughly.