Have you ever thought that the dry leaves that accumulate in your garden every autumn can be transformed into a precious fertilizer natural?
Il composting it is an ecological method that is as simple as it is effective to obtain a nutrient-rich compostimproving the quality of your soil and reducing organic waste. Read on to find out how!
Prepare the Dried Leaves
The first thing to do is collect all the dry leaves of your garden. To facilitate composting, it is important that the leaves are chopped up into smaller pieces.
This can be done using a shredder or simply running the mower over a pile of leaves. This way, you will speed up the decomposition process.
The Right Mix of Materials
To get a balanced compostit is necessary to mix the dried leaves with other organic materials. The dry leaves represent the layer “brown” rich in carbonfundamental for the structure of the compost.
It’s important to add a layer too “green” rich in nitrogenlike him fruit and vegetable wastecut grass or remains of withered plants.
Other Useful Materials
In addition to leaves and kitchen scraps, you can add various other materials to enrich the compost. For example, i egg shellsi coffee groundsthe paglia hey contents of used tea bags.
Instead, avoid adding meat, bones or fats, which can attract unwanted animals and slow the decomposition process.
How to Create the Compost Bin
To start yours home compostingyou will need one container adequate, like a composter. This can be a ventilated bin or a simple wooden structure.
Make sure the composter is placed in a shady place in the garden, preferably under a deciduous tree, to keep the compost always moist.
The Composting Process
Once you have your container ready, start layering your materials. Alternate layers of brown materials e green materialsadding a little water if necessary to maintain the right level of humidity.
Stir the compost every now and then to make sure the air is circulating and the decomposition process is continuing properly.
Accelerate Decomposition
To speed up the decomposition of dry leaves, you can add a composting activatorsuch as mature manure or a commercial product.
Another trick is to insert small branches or wood chips into the compost, which promote air circulation.
Use Compost
When the compost is ready, after about 6-12 months, it will have a dark color and a fresh earthy smell.
Use it in your garden as natural fertilizerspreading it around the plants and mixing it with the soil to improve its quality and ability to retain water.
