Composting Guide

Compost is nature’s way of recycling. For thousands of years people have used compost because of its significant effect on the growth of food crops. Made from waste garden material, compost is an essential ingredient for creating rich, friable soil and therefore healthy plants.

Successful gardeners often refer to compost as a soil’s lifeline. The more nutrient and organic matter we add to a soil the better it will be. Compost improves soil structure and increases the amount of oxygen available to plants. Compost conditions soil; in clay soil it will improve drainage and in sandy soil it will increase water holding capacity.

By adding compost you will increase the soil’s fertility, enabling you to produce better crops. Feed the soil and it will feed you.

Compost should be used when preparing vegetable gardens for planting. Place a 10cm layer all over the garden beds and dig it into the existing soil. When planting trees and shrubs mix a bucket of compost into the hole to help establish the plant.

You can make your own compost from kitchen scraps and garden waste, or buy ready-made Tui Organic Compost at your local garden centre.

To make your own compost follow these basic guidelines:

• Choose a good structure or container to hold your compost and prepare it in layers that are a blend of carbon and nitrogen. That means wood and green waste. Leaf, sticks, twigs and newspaper all qualify as carbon and anything green and leafy as nitrogen.
• Next add moisture and cover the heap to enable it to decompose quickly.
• Add Tui Compost Enhancer to each layer of material as you prepare your heap. The hydrated lime accelerates composting and helps neutralise acidic soils. Hydrated Lime is the fastest acting form of lime. Apply 100g (approximately 10 tablespoons) per square metre to help accelerate compost decomposition. It is also excellent for keeping flies away.