Compost and Fertile Soil Building

BLAKE COURTNEY/FOTOLIA

Building fertile soil to grow healthy, productive plants is a gardener’s ultimate goal. You can improve the appearance and nutritional value of your garden soil by adding amendments such as fall leaves and fresh grass clippings, by composting yard and kitchen waste, and by using castings from earth worms (called vermicompost).

The fertility of your soil also can be affected by how often you till the soil and the kinds of mulches you use.

One of the simplest methods of adding nutritious material to your garden beds is by incorporating well composted vegetation onto and into the soil. Composting mimics and intensifies nature’s recycling plan.

A compost pile starts out as a diverse pile of kitchen and garden “waste,” and matures into what soil scientists call biologically active organic matter: a dark, crumbly soil amendment that’s rich with beneficial fungi, bacteria and earthworms, as well as the enzymes and acids these life-forms release as they multiply.

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Compost

Compost Made Easy

by Barbara Pleasant, October/November 2006

These 10 facts about composting will help you turn food and yard waste into garden gold.

Compost Tumblers

by Brook Elliott, April/May 2003

Mother tests several compost tumblers and shares results, including tumbler styles, feature pros and cons, operating factors, test results.

Make Your Own Potting Soil

by Barbara Pleasant, December 2008/January 2009

Nutritious potting soil will give your seedlings and house plants a good place to grow. You can buy potting soil or make your own. Combine a bit of dirt, some well aged compost and a handful of sand for good drainage to form an inexpensive and handy planting medium for your new garden seedlings or old-friend house plants.

Leaves for Chicken Bedding and Compost

by Kellie Gardner, August/September 2008

Use dry leaves for bedding in your chicken coop.

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Reusing Tea and Coffee Grounds for Compost

by Clare Hafferman, June/July 2008

You can put used coffee grounds and tea bags into your compost pile.

Secure Compost Bin

by Michelle Higgins, October/November 2005

Transform metal garbage cans into functional compost bins.

Make Easy Compost Tea

by Ed Bowser, Sr., April/May 2007

A barrel of manure and some water combine to provide great nutrients to garden plants.

Is it OK to compost or not?

by Barbara Pleasant, May 2008

Compost expert Barbara Pleasant calls on people everywhere to take responsibility for their yard and kitchen waste.

Recycle Your Leaves

by Cheryl Long, November/December 2005

Here are four ways to recycle this valuable resource on your yard and in your garden

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Watch Out for Killer Compost

by Cheryl Long and Barbara Pleasant, October/November 2008

Home food gardens are falling victim to a persistent pesticide found in some forms of compost.

Ask Our Experts: I have read about using newspaper as mulch, but what about using office paper for mulch or composting? Many people use shredded non-glossy paper in mulch or compost, where it typically degrades in a single season. Since paper is a wood product, you should regard it as a high-carbon soil additive, similar to sawdust. When using it to make compost…

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Ask Our Experts: Can I use horse manure and straw bedding to make compost? Yes! In fact, it makes great compost, according to the Maryland Cooperative Extension Office

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Ask Our Experts: Can you compost black walnut hulls? The mention of black walnut trees makes many gardeners groan, because all of the plants parts, from leaf to root tip, contain a substance called juglone that causes severe stunting...

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Fertile Soil Building

SHEREZ/FOTOLIA

Worms! Soil Building Workhorses

by Barbara Pleasant, June/July 2008

Use the free services of resident earthworms to make one of nature’s most potent fertilizers.

Build Better Soil With Free Organic Fertilizer

by Cheryl Long and Barbara Pleasant, April/May 2008

Avoid expensive fertilizers — here are your best organic options, including two that you won’t even have to pay for!

8 Strategies for Better Garden Soil

by Harvey Ussery, June/July 2007

Use these natural methods to build healthier garden soil.

Building Fertile Soil

by Doreen G. Howard, June/July 2003

Use these low-till, low-work methods to enhance the soil in your garden. Includes information on mycorrhizal fungi.

Build Permanent Beds and Paths

by Cheryl Long, April/May 2007

Permanent beds make gardening easier and soil healthier. Includes annually adding compost, building new beds and soil testing.

A Better Way to Fertilize Your Garden - Homemade Organic Fertilizer

by Steve Solomon, June/July 2006

Your crops will thrive with this organic soil-building plan.

Beginner's Guide to Fertile Soil and Raised Garden Beds

by Alison Rogers, May 2007

When you build permanent garden beds and paths, you protect the soil structure from compaction by foot traffic-an important step in maintaining soil health.

Use Wood Mulch to Build Great Garden Soil

by Barbara Pleasant, October/November 2010

Sawdust and wood chip mulches will conserve water, control weeds and build long-term soil fertility.

Your Garden’s Soil pH Matters

by Barbara Pleasant, April/May 2014

Learn what causes acidic soil and alkaline soil, plus how to apply the results of a soil pH test in your organic garden.

How to Improve Clay Soil

by Vicki Mattern, March 2014

I have heavy clay soil that becomes as hard as a brick when it dries, and my neighbors who also garden have asked me how to improve clay soil. What are the best methods for improving clay soil?