Benefits of composting and mulching
When 4-H’ers start presentations, they will use a statistic or fact to grab attention. For my article, I would like to give you a do you know question. Do you know that in many communities, material such as leaves, grass clippings and trimmings can make up to 20 percent of the waste added to landfills? I suggest that homeowners use this valuable natural resource by composting this material. In addition, the compost can be applied as mulch to your plants and other ornamentals. The compost has many benefits that can assist your gardening efforts. I will be sharing a few composting and mulching basics by using a UGA publica- tion on the topic revised by Bodie Pennisi, UGA Extension Landscape Specialist.
Why should you compost? For starters composting is a way of taking a natural resource and turning it into something beneficial. When you add composted material to your landscape as a mulch, you are improving the growing conditions by building organic matter for your plants or other ornamentals. Plus, composted material applied as mulch can help keep soil temperature more even, thus protecting plant roots from extreme hot or cold temperatures. The practice can also conserve soil moisture.
Right now we are in an extreme drought. We actually can lose a good amount of soil moisture in times of drought, which can cause moisture stress to the landscape plant. Mulching can help save that valuable moisture. In addition, mulching can help control weeds and even help combat soil erosion. I will also add that when the burn ban is in effect, composting your landscape refuse is a great option. Also, composting is a way to recycle landscape material that could end up in our local landfill.
Why do you need to compost instead of mixing the fresh landscape refuse in the soil in the first place? When you compost, the material goes through a process of decomposition by microbes, which makes the material usable as an amendment. If you mix uncomposted material in your soil, you can actually worsen the growing conditions for a period of time. The material will decompose over time, but when you apply the fresh refuse, microbes will compete with plant roots for soil nitrogen. This can cause a nitrogen deficient environment and thus inhibit plant growth. When material is correctly composted and then added, the battle for nitrogen between microbes and plant roots is reduced and nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium are more available to the plants.
In order for proper decomposition to occur, there are several factors that need to be kept in mind by the person when composting material. First, aeration of the compost pile is important. Microbes need oxygen in order to assist in decomposition. To speed up decomposition, you need to turn the pile once or twice a month to make sure there is enough oxygen available. A pile that is not mixed may take up to four times longer to decompose, plus you can have unpleasant odors from the compost pile. Pennisi adds that raising the pile off the ground will allow oxygen to go through the compost mass. Any course material should be placed at the bottom as the pile is built or should be placed in the pile and then removed as decomposition starts.
Next, you need correct moisture level in the pile for decomposition. A dry compost pile will not decompose easily. Moisture is needed by the organisms that break down the material. If rainfall is limited, you will need to add supplemental water. You want to keep the pile damp, but not over watered. Excessive water can actually slow down decomposition plus again cause foul odors. If you think the pile is too wet, you can turn the pile to dry it out and then start the process over.
Another key to decomposition of a compost pile is the actual size of the material in the pile. A simple tip is the smaller the size of the composting material, the easier it will be broken down by microbes and the quicker it will be ready to use as a compost. Mowing of fallen leaves or using a shredder can help reduce material size before putting into the compost pile. Temperature of the compost pile is also important to decomposition. Pennisi states that a well mixed and properly working compost pile should heat between 110 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit as microbes feed on the material. Plus, at the correct temperature disease pathogen and weed seeds can be reduced. For more information, contact UGA Extension- Gordon County at 706-629-8685 or email gbowman@uga. edu.