If you are looking for a cost effective way to add organic nutrients to your garden or lawn, then you are a candidate for a compost pile. Composting is a good way to recycle kitchen and garden waste material. Once you get your compost pile started, which is not difficult, there is very little upkeep. This process will not require half of your weekend.

The first thing is to pick a suitable spot for the compost pile. If possible, it should be out of sight, but still be easily accessible from the lawn, garden and the kitchen if possible. With the location picked out, you can proceed to build your compost bin, I prefer to use wire mesh fencing, but you could also use wood if you so desire. In either case when building your bin, do not cover the top.

Now that you have a compost bin, you cannot just dump lawn, garden or kitchen waste in the bin. Place the waste material in the bin in layers. Begin with a 4” layer of leaves. For the next layer, use approximately 1” of good garden soil. For the next layer add about 2” of grass clippings from the lawn, or you can use old plants. Do not use clippings containing weeds, or grass clippings, if your lawn has a disease of any type. Alternate the layers in this manner, several times.

After a week or so, take your spading fork and turn the compost pile. Begin to add kitchen waste (coffee grounds, eggshells, misc green waste) at this time. Be sure to turn the compost pile once a week with your spading fork. This will distribute the waste material, and the moisture, evenly throughout the pile.

After 8 weeks or so, you will begin to have usable compost. You can tell when the compost is ready, when you cannot find the individual pieces of waste material that you have added to the pile. Do not add oils, animal waste, or meat to the compost.

Just remember that the recipe for good compost is one part green material, from the lawn, garden or the kitchen, and two parts of good garden soil, and keep the mixture damp but not wet. If done correctly your compost pile will have an earthy smell, and your plants will appreciate the compost.

Healthy compost consists of one part green lawn debris and one or two parts of healthy garden soil. Healthy compost is also damp, although it is not soaking wet. It should also give out an earthy smell.

Everyone with a home longs to have a beautiful, lush, professional looking lawn. The upside to this is a well-maintained lawn will add value to the home itself, and it will boost your self-esteem to have a lawn admired by others. The problem is that a well-maintained yard requires regular work, and not everyone appreciates this fact. You must take certain steps regularly to accomplish this goal.

1. Weekly lawn mowing is probably the most important step to take. Be sure to keep the blades on your mowing equipment sharp. This will allow the mower to cut, and not to tear or shred the blades of grass. Check with the professionals in your area to find out the optimal height for your type to turf grass. Maintain the lawn at the same overall height, this will help to reduce the amount of stress on the grass; also, it will look better if the entire lawn has been cut at the same height.

2. Regular watering is a requirement for any lawn. Plants of any type require regular watering, and your lawn is the same way. One of the worst things that could happen to your lawn would be for it to go without water until it turns brown. This could and probably will kill a good portion of your lawn turf, the portion of the lawn that does not die off, will be in very poor health. You should avoid this situation if possible, since it is very difficult for a lawn to recover from this. Remember, proper watering will help to promote the health and color of your lawn.

3. Weed, Weed, Weed. This is another factor than can harm your lawn. You should make an effort to keep weeds from taking over any area of your lawn. Once they take hold, you will wish you had spent more time weeding. The weeds take moisture and nutrients meant for your lawn. The weeds can also begin to choke out the grass, leaving you with a mixture of your favorite turf grass, and your least favorite weeds. While on your knees weeding, also look out for pests that can also damage your lawn. You can use pesticides to handle the bugs, insects, and other pests that can infest your lawn, because these critters can cause the same effects on your lawn as weeds.

There are various systems, methods, plans, steps and other things to ensure a lush lawn. However, just by following the simple, basic steps above, you will make a good start on your journey to having a beautiful lawn.

I try to write articles based on the questions I get via email and on the phone. I had receved several about doing sod jobs and a couple about weeds. Particuraly Dandelions and Crabgrass.
Here’s the latest articels I’ve posted:

Dandelions- How to control

Getting Rid of Crabgrass

Measuring and Installing Sod

Pricing a Sod Job

Different Types of Sod

I’m working on some other articles to answer questions I received in the past few weeks. I’ll post them over the next day or so…

Patrikc