Green waste abounds. When you cut your lawn, the grass clippings are green waste and the leftover vegetables and fruits that you throw away are all considered green waste, too. Rather than simply adding it to landfills, where it will rot away, more and more people are turning to recycling their green waste.
What Is Compost?
When you recycle green waste, managed in a properly turned over compost pile, all that rubbish turns into rich, nutrient-packed soil that can be used in a variety of ways.
The finished compost is nothing like the sorry grass clippings and vegetable rinds that you threw away. Instead, it has been transformed into a dark, crumbly soil that smells quite lovely. It should smell like dirt, or a loamy forest.
How to Use Compost
Once you have the compost which, depending on the setup, can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to develop, how do you use it?
Mulch: Compost helps retain water, so it’s a great mulch that will help prevent evaporation from the soil. It will keep the weeds down, as well, so apply at least 5-6 inches. The compost layer will also absorb any excess water to prevent pooling.
Potting Soil: Do you have new plants that you need to pot? Mix the compost in equal parts with vermiculite and topsoil to create the best potting soil you’ve ever used.
Compost Tea: If you want the immediate benefits of all those nutrients, try making compost tea for your garden. This simply requires mixing plain tap water (no chlorine) in a large pail with 2 cups of compost, a tablespoon of molasses, a tablespoon of liquid kelp fertiliser and a teaspoon or liquid fish fertiliser. Allow it to “brew” for 24 hours before straining, diluting 1:10, and using it to water your garden.
Spring Boost: Add several inches of compost soil to your flowerbeds or vegetable garden before planting. Spread it over the top of the soil and dig it into the garden for the best results. Over time, the rain and watering will help the nutrients soak deeper to really nourish those plant roots.
Fertiliser: You can use finished compost as a fertiliser in its own right. Simply add a scoop to the hole when planting a tree or a seedling. It’s particularly effective for tomatoes and melons but will benefit all plants.
Don’t add your green waste to the regular rubbish. Instead, make sure to set up a compost pile in your garden or talk to a company like Cherry Hill Waste about recycling the waste and ensuring it is used properly. This helps eliminate a large amount of waste from the landfill and ensures it is turned into something useful.
