Create a Rich Base for your Vegetables, Annuals and Perennials
Warmer weather causes quick growth in your garden. That means the microorganisms in the soil are also in higher gear, releasing the food your plants need to fuel their growth spurts. Adding organic compost now will replenish the “natural fertilizers” your perennials need to give you a good showing this season. It will also form a perfect base to support that organic vegetable garden we all want in our yards these days!
What makes compost so good? The better the variety of materials used to make the compost, the more nutrients it provides. To grow well, plants need a combination of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. They also need some small amounts of minerals you think of for gardening, like copper, iron and zinc for instance. When we make compost at GreenCycle, we mix just the right amounts of brown organic material (like dead leaves and twigs) with green organic material (like lawn clippings) to create a balanced product. Interestingly, people often have a misconception that compost has a low pH value. This is not true with GreenCycle’s organic compost, which usually measures a pH of around 7.
What we feed our veggies, we feed ourselves.
The great thing about using organic compost as “fertilizer” for your garden is that it provides “food on demand” for your plants. If you’re just switching over now to being more “green” and avoiding putting chemicals on your lawn and in your garden, this will be a different way of thinking for you. Think of it more like feeding your soil so your plants get fed from the roots up, rather than fertilizing from above as you’d do by spraying your plants or watering them with commercial fertilizers like MiracleGrow mixed in, for instance. Organic compost binds to other elements of your soil, making the soil more crumbly. That helps the soil hold more moisture, and creates spaces throughout the soil where oxygen can gather – and that makes for better plant roots. Those spaces also give water better channels through the soil, which means better drainage for your garden.
Creating a healthier soil environment for your plants also creates a healthier environment for the many creatures that live in your garden’s soil, like that great gardener’s friend the earthworm. Remember, there’s a whole little ecosystem in your garden to care for – not just the plants! So while you’re clearing out your beds and preparing your soil for the season, make sure to incorporate some rich organic compost.
How much compost does your soil need? Tilling in a good three to four inches to the top six inches of your garden is a good start. And remember, it’s not just your vegetable garden that will benefit. Don’t forget to enrich your flower beds, too, especially any new perennials you may be planting. Even your trees and shrubs could use a fresh dose. If you’re not sure how much compost you need, just give us a call and we’ll help you calculate the right amount. Need bulk delivery of compost? Please call us and remember to give us some advance notice. Our trucks are loading up!
