The Citizen, 1991-05-15, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15,1991. PAGE 23.
W® 1991
Feed a garden and starve a landfill
Stop dumping on Canada. That's
the message for the '90s as the
country faces the greatest environ
mental crisis in its history. Nearly
one-third of the existing municipal
landfills will be full within the next
five to seven years.
So, how does the country spell
relief? C-O-M-P-O-S-T-I-N-G.
It's not just another dirty word.
Composting is the process of turn
ing organic materials - grass clip
pings, leaves and twigs, as well as
coffee grinds, vegetable scraps and
egg shells - into humus, a rich soil
nutrient.
Finished compost or humus is
one of the best soil conditioners
around. A healthy dose of humus
enables sandy soil to retain water
and nutrients, and helps clay soil
drain and "breathe" properly. It also
releases nutrients slowly but steadi
ly, so they do not bum or harm
plants. And humus stimulates the
spread of beneficial microorgan
isms in the soil, which are con
stantly at work improving soil
structure and fighting disease-bear
ing bacteria.
Even novice gardeners can pro
duce useful compost throughout the
year. For best results, follow these
simple guidelines to convert big
piles of refuse into little piles of
compost:
•Start with the pile. A compost
pile can be located on the ground,
or contained in a simple enclosure
or in a 30-55 gallon plastic bag. Be
sure to place bins on a well-drained
site that is shaded from direct sun
light. If the pile or bin is uncov
ered, put a sheet of plastic on top to
keep out excess moisture, which
slows decomposition. When using
a plastic bag, shake or invert it.
Also, punch holes to allow air to
enter, and keep the top of the bag
open.
•Feed it a balanced diet. Use
mostly plant matter, and don't add
meats, fats or dairy waste, all of
which actually slow composting.
Your goal is to achieve a mixture
of four parts carbon-based plant
material (including leaves, sawdust
Bark mulch beautifies,
insulates plants naturally
Mulch is not only insulation for
your plants, but it provides an
attractive instant "facelift" for your
property as well.
Good quality bark mulch protects
and beautifies in the following
ways:
•Water conservation - reduces
evaporation caused by heat and
wind by as much as 50 per cent.
•Weed control - provides a phys
ical barrier to weeds and cools the
soil to discourage weeds from ger
minating.
•Soil temperature regulation -
provides a better growing environ
ment for plants.
•Erosion control - prevents sur
face runoff and traps water to soak
into the soil.
•Improved appearance - gives a
"manicured" look for more attrac
tive plantings.
•Soil compaction - reduces com
paction, especially in heavy foot
traffic areas. ,
•Added organic value - as bark
mulch decomposes, it enriches the
soil by adding organic matter and
making the surface crumbly.
•Disease reduction - prohibits
water from splashing from bare soil
to plant leaves, carrying disease.
Experts recommend applying
mulch at least two inches deep;
three to four inches will give best
results. Application is easy. Begin
by determining the borders of your
beds. Use a spade to dig down
along the perimeter and remove all
grass and weeds. Cultivate or
"break up" the bare soil and spread
three to four inches of bark mulch
over the surface. For a more tex
tured, natural look, apply larger
nuggets to the top layer. Mulches
should be added each year to
replenish the supply that has
decomposed and to improve the
bed's appearance.
Plastic films are not strongly rec
ommended because they are
unattractive, cause excessive
increases in soil temperatures, and
give poor air and water exchange.
Bark is 100 per cent organic and
non-toxic, according to a report
from the U.S. Agricultural Forest
Service. Experts recommend bark
mulch for use on any ornamental or
garden planting. Fertilizer may be
applied on top of the mulch and
washed in. There is no need to rake
back the mulch.
and even Spanish moss) to one part
nitrogen-based plant material, such
as grass clippings and vegetable
peelings.
•Shred material before com
posting. Chop materials or pul
them through a shredder. Shredded
material creates more surface area
for hungry microorganisms to feed
on.
•Layer your pile. Build your
compost pile in layers, watering
each as it is completed. Start with
two or three inches of coarse mate
rials, such as cornstalks, twigs or
straw to let air reach the bottom of
the pile. Next, add three to six inch
es of organic materials.
•Measure the temperature. Ide
ally, the compost should "cook" at
140 to 160 degrees for the first few
days, high enough to destroy weed
seeds and disease organisms. Spe
cial thermometers are available to
keep track of compost tempera
tures.
•Turn the pile. Composting
requires air, so don't forget to turn
the pile every two to seven days.
The process of turning the pile pro
vides an opportunity to add more
shredded green and dry matter.
•Keep the pile moist. But not
soggy. A handful of compost feels
about the same as a squeezed-out
sponge. If you keep the pile damp
and turn it every few days, you'll
have compost ready to use in six to
eight weeks.
Gardeners who compost are safe
ly returning kitchen debris and yard
waste to the soil, it's an easy, safe
and environmcntally-wise alterna
tive to sending garbage to over
flowing landfills. In addition,
composted soil is a much healthier
place for your plants to grow.
CA/XIADIAMA
LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT
3 5 HP
LAWNMOWERS
PRICED FROM $1 80 .
12 HP
TRACTOR
WITH 39"
MOWER $1 670.
5 HP-28”
TILLERS
PRICED FROM $480.
12 HP HYDROSTATIC DRIVE
TRACTOR
WITH 40"
MOWER $2180.
12 HP
TRACTOR
WITH 38”
MOWER $1499.
12 HP
ARTICULATOR
WITH 42"
MOWER $3100.
BUY NOW! Trade-Ins Welcome
SPRING TUNE-UP TIME
Bring in your Lawn & Garden Equipment Now!
w 523-9202 Hwy. No. 4 LONDESBORO
ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS & TREES
ANNUALS PERENNIALS
HANGING BASKETS
We have everything you need for your
spring landscaping, plus a computer
aided design service
__COME IN AND SEE USTODAY!
l/ ' n- ■■ i
’£*2*5 C p: ■ -■» . »»f 'JvSSi■szrf', «4_> , , r «... rf'X
£ . V* ** P **' I’ J JSC-ZMWJ
1/2 Mile South of Lucknow on Huron Rd. #1
Hours: Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
May ONLY - Sunday 12 noon - 5 p.m.
Weatherstrip system
seals 99 5%
draft free.
Why do so many
architects specify
Feldmann Windows?
CASEMENT
window* con bo custom-
AWMNG
FELDMANN
FRENCH
PATIO
DOORS
Great alternative to
conventional patio doors
Centre hinged
FELDMANN
LUXURY
DOORS
Available with insulated
leaded lights in a
vanety of patterns
LJ__- Scaled unit* require
. cleaning on only
two surface*
J .... . 4 .
i . . : ; .
— > Factory sealed
- thermo-pane glass
standard in all
—-' Feldmann Windows
Extruded aluminum
finish never needs
painting
Three point glaring
system absolutely
will not leak
I
I Solid wood frames
•re the best
natural insulator
Because Feldmann Windows
make sense They are designed
top to bottom, inside and out. to
perform in every punishing
extreme of Canadian weather.
Take, for instance, our Aluminum
Clad Casement Windows. Top of
the line, no compromise. The
finish (in any of 3 colours) is
permanent and the seal is 99.5%
draft free.
Finally, notice the interior finish
Solid clear pine. Stain it. paint it.
marblei:e it. or lacquer it. hut
either way. love it. Because in
whatever decor you choose, a
Feldmann Window speaks ot style
and of grace._______________
Feldmann
w i ru o o w s
Your Three Best Reasons to
deal with Clinton Glass...
- TOP QUALITY REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AND
WINDOWS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
■ RELIABLE AND EXPERIENCED INSTALLATION STAFF
■ EXPERIENCED SALES ADVICE
Clinton
“See our mirror and aluminum products
Showroom Displays’1 24 Princes* St. Weit, CLINTON 482-3322