Building A Compost Heap

A compost heap is a purposely-designed pile of decomposing organic matter. As the organic matter decomposes, it will come down to base elements that are very handy for any gardener, and perfectly natural as well.

When you are ready to start a compost heap, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, lets start by thinking about how to make the compost itself. Find a good place in your garden where your compost will get a fair amount of shade, which will keep it from drying out.

On the ground, spread a layer of .

Pile them on until you have something like a six-inch layer and then cover it with around three to six inches of finished compost, soil or manure.

Using this formula, layer them together until you have a compost pile that is around three feet tall.

The size is important because it needs to generate enough heat during the decomposition process to keep the compost sterile.

• When you are thinking about what you can use your compost for, you'll find that there are plenty of uses. You can use it as topdressing for your lawn, a potting soil or as an additive to improve the soil itself.

• You will also find that this is a great way to get rid of table scraps and to really put something back into the earth.

• Working with compost is also a great way to teach your kids about how life on earth works and for them to see decomposition in action.

• When you want to make sure that your compost pile is getting off to a good start, you may want to consider throwing in something like a compost activator.

A compost activator is meant to get your compost pile going and it can make things happen much faster. Barnyard manure, bone meal, cottonseed meal, blood meal, and compost from another, finished compost heap is ideal.

There are just a few things that you can do when you are looking at taking care of your compost pile. If it is near a tree, turn it regularly so that the tree doesn't grow into your heap, if you want to keep it moist, make a divot in the top and sprinkle it with water.

Remember that you want the heap to be damp, but not wet, because there are good bacteria that cannot survive if it is too wet.

Take some time and make sure that you consider what your options are going to be when it comes to putting together a compost heap. This can help you move forward very quickly and the results in your garden can be impressive!

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