Seeding Dallas November 11 Nature Law of Return Forest Floor - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seeding Dallas November 11

Nature – Law of Return • Forest Floor • Decomposition • Build more topsoil • Protects soil • Recycle to new life

Compost vs Mulch

What is composting? What is good compost? • Compost Happens – Composting is managing the combinations to produce a good compost to amend soil for growing plants. • Good compost is active and alive. Millions of diverse microbes • Good compost is a food resource for fungal/bacterial feeders • Good compost has ambient temperature. • Good compost is dark brown and crumbly aggregate. • Good compost smells like the forest floor.

Composting System – M3AT • Mass • Materials • Moisture • Air • Temperature • Tools - pitchfork

Mass and Location • 3ft x 3ft x3ft • Contained or piles on ground • Sunny area • Central for movement of materials • Collection area for building compost piles

C.E. Shepherd Bins – Right size, stores, removes for turning. Build Pile and flip pile when turning.

Materials – Diversity is Key • Organic Trimmings • Carbon material – Brown and Dry • Nitrogen material – Green and Moist • 2/3 Carbon to 1/3 Nitrogen in volume • Particle size matters • Small scale composting – limits to materials

Spent plants from the garden are chopped, composted and return to the soil. Bacteria based for growing soft tissue plants vs. fungi based for woody plants.

Moisture • Water throughout layers as you build pile • Damp sponge feel • City water and chlorine vs Rain Water • Add water while turning pile

Air • Aerobic vs Anaerobic • Use your sense of smell • Bulky and woody materials adds space • Container vented • Solution – Turn pile when temperature drops

Temperature • Heats up to 135 within 24 hours • Turn when temp lowers – about 10 days • Too high temperature will kill off good microbes

What is composting? What is good compost? • Compost Happens – Composting is managing the combinations to produce a good compost to amend soil for growing plants. • Good compost is active and alive. Millions of diverse microbes • Good compost is a food resource for fungal/bacterial feeders • Good compost has ambient temperature. • Good compost is dark brown and crumbly aggregate. • Good compost smells like the forest floor.

Compost Use • Soil amendment – Add ½ inch soil – Lay on top like mulch • Gently scratch in to existing soil to plant seeds. • Lawns – ¼ - ½ inch spread over existing grass • Sidedress plants when start to set (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants)

Compost Tea – Drench and Foliar Feed • My favorite way to make compost tea • Air temps between 40 and 90 degrees • Vortex stirring adds air • Horticulture molasses and fish emulsion • Microbes multiplied • Watering can application

Amanda Vanhoozie ier Ju Just Pick icked TX TX amanda@ju justpic ickedtx.c .com