Composting (Smith & Hawken the Hands-On Gardener)

Compost is "black gold." Whether you passively keep a pile in the corner of the yard or actively manage a series of bins, creating and using the compost is the gardener's best method for tending the soil's health.

Fully illustrated throughout, Composting begins with the least time-consuming method-which produces compost in a year or two-and graduates to active techniques that turn out a usable compost in six to eight weeks. It covers materials suitable for compost (both "brown" and "green"); how to achieve a proper balance of carbon, nitrogen, air, and water for the fastest and most efficient decomposition; and how to employ compost in the most effective ways-as topdressing for lawn and garden; as soil-enrichment for a new bed; and as a medium for seedlings.

The third single-subject primer from Smith & Hawken, "Composting" is basic enough to get any new gardener started, yet sufficiently detailed to serve as an essential reference for the experienced composter. The book covers all the many compost bins and tools available and common problems, such as smells, animal attraction, drying out, and more. Illustrations.

Compostingbegins with the least-maintenance method--pile up dead leaves and grass trimmings in a corner of the yard and let nature do its work--and graduates to those methods that require more involvement but also yield greater and faster results. It covers materials suitable for compost; how to achieve the proper balance of carbon, nitrogen, water, and air for fastest decomposition; how to monitor and adjust the piles heat; as well as common problems and what to do about them.

Introducing an informative series of gardening books from Smith & Hawken: single-subject primers that provide a basic tutorial for the novice yet are thorough enough to serve as a reference for the experienced gardener.

Liz Ball is the author and photographer of eight garden books, including Rodale's Garden Problem Solver series. Her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous catalogs, magazines and books. A regional director of the Garden Writers' Association of America, she lives and gardens outside Philadelphia, PA.

CONTENTS

Introduction

WHAT IS SOIL?

The Life of Soil

Making Humus by Composting

NURTURING THE SOIL

Organic Materials for Composting

SIMPLE COMPOSTING

Making the Simple Compost Pile

Other Simple Composting Methods

MANAGED COMPOSTING

The Pros and Cons of Managed Composting

Building the Managed Composting Pile

Doing It All

COMPOSTING SITES

General Specifications

Screening the Composting Area

CHOOSING A COMPOST BIN

Criteria for a Compost Bin

Making Your Own Bin

Commercial Compost Bins

Alternatives to Bins and Boxes

COMPOSTING TOOLS and SUPPLIES

Equipment to Shred or Chop Materials

Other Composting Tools and Supplies

THE BENEFITS of COMPOST

Compost Benefits Soil

Compost Benefits Plants

HOW to USE COMPOST

Stretching Compost

Using Compost in Your Landscape

SOLVING COMPOST PROBLEMS

Problems with Your Pile

Dealing with Kitchen Garbage

Substituting When Your Compost Runs out