The Ideas Genie Community Forum
Our Gardens => creating an edge of woodgarden area => Topic started by: greenfinger on November 06, 2006, 10:05:09 AM
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The soil in this part of the garden is rather neglected, too compact and cold. In order to improve its structure it is simple dug, then sifted compost is incorporated à rato of 1 wheelbarrow / 1 sq. metre. A handful of bonemeal is added as organic fertilizer.
About the compost heap: all the green waste of garden and kitchen goes on it. This is best done in layers: a layer of grass, a layer of leaves, a.s.o. The bacteriae and earth worms do the good work. In the beginning a lot of warmth is produced: this is a good sign because it means there is sufficient oxygen in the material (this aerobic metabolism is needed to transform the waste to compost). When this process declines I reverse the whole heap. The exterior goes interior and some fresh material is added to improve again the bacterial working. All in all this takes 1 to 2 years in my experience to make soft and well digested compost.