posted
I have A LOT of white oak leaves on my property. I usually mow them up and throw them in a pile in one spot. Knowing absolutely nothing about making compost I didn't deliberately pile the leaves there to make compost. One summer I found some packages of wildflower seeds at a yard sale for pennies. I threw the seeds on the leaf pile. thinking I could cover it up with flowers. Behold the flowers came up and were nice cover for my leaf pile. At the end of summer I examined the leaf pile by digging in it and the leaves had turned to DARK BLACK soil all around the roots of the flowers. I am going to try some of the suggestions in this topic to start a REAL compost pile this year. To get to my questions. Does anybody know if planting something in the compost pile causes the compost to develop faster/better?? Or was I just lucky anything even grew in the leaf pile? Is planting seeds in a compost heap a bad idea??
Seeded: 152.163.100.68
posted
I think if you look up lasagna composting you will find exactly what you are looking for and procisely how to go about it to get the best effect. Different plants like different amounts of fertilizer in their soil so some would do well in the compost pile and some wouldn't. My tomatoes for instance would love it. I hear them clamouring for the idea all the way from the kitchen right now. They are a very routy group of veggies I got to tell you. lol
Anyway the lasagna beds will definitely be one thing to look into. As far as why one might not want to plant flowers on top of a compost pile is two fold for me. One it would make turning it very difficult lol. And two, and most important, is that I want that compost for my establised flower beds. And if I grow plants in the pile then all the nutrients will be gone when I go to use it on the other beds. And that would be defeating my purpose.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.211
posted
Alot of volunteer things can grow in a compost pile that is on the ground or open. The flowers would draw some of the nutrients from the compost, but I don't think they played any part in breaking it down quicker, but someone else will know for sure.
posted
That makes sense. I mean the part about plants on the compost heap/leaf pile using all the nutrients. So pretty much, compost will be turned into soil by any plant. And I should not deliberately plant stuff on it because of nutrient loss.
Yep I am going to try to make a REAL compost pile. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Seeded: 152.163.100.68
posted
The flowers used a minimal amount of nutrients. No great loss. The compost remaining still makes an excellent soil additive, helping with moisture retention, nutrient retention, as well as creating air pockets in the soil for the plant roots.
Most plants will do very nicely growing in compost. When stuff comes up in my compost, I let it be. My compost doesn't get much turning anyway. Stuff turned into compost long before people started turning it. My efforts are better utilized elsewhere.
* * * * Plants: 11 | From: TN USA | Registered: Nov 2005
| Seeded: 216.78.31.9
Oui
guest
posted
I like the not turning phylosophy. I am going to try some of the instructions on here to see what I get.
Seeded: 205.188.116.71
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