The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-26, Page 50Recycle garden in compost pile
DO IT YOURSELF. By constructing two side-by-side compost'bins, you
can easily turn your compost after 3 to 4 months of moderate to warm
weather.
Long before modern, ecologi-
cally -conscious man "got into"
recycling natural resources. com-
posting was a tool of the farmer
and gardener..It's still a good way
for you to build up and maintain
your soil for good plant growth.
Composting involves returning
dead plant matter to the soil—
after it has been supplemented
with commercial fertilizer and al-
lowed to decay—to help strength-
en the soil for growing new plants.
Compost material is applied
just like any other mulch material
but it can do a lot more, according
to The Fertilizer institute. Com-
posrean add organic matter and-
plant
ndplant 'nutrients to the soil as well
as furnish food for earthworms—
essential for aerating the soil. As a
mulch, compost also reduces soil
erosion by wind and water and can
help suppress weed growth. In
addition it helps retain essential
soil moisture.
Practically any plant
can be composted. Leaves, lawn
clippings, tine twigs, old sod
straw, and kitchen 'and garder
vegetable refuse are excellent.
Avoid using diseased plants. In
the fall, great. quantities of leaves
are available from neighbors for
the asking.
Begin by selecting an out-of-the-
way place in your garden or a
hidden corner of your lawn. If you
have the space, two bins are
better than one—permitting you
to turn the compost by moving it
from one bin to the other. •
You can •make the bins by at-
taching wire fence or boards to.
posts, or to adjoining fence or
wall: Each bin should be 4 to 6 feet
material
high, 3 to 5 feet wide and any
convenient length,., tailored to the
amount of compost you need. One
side of each bin should he remov-
able to enable you to till and
use) to each 10 square feet of sur-
face. Then add one inch of soil
and enough water to moisten but
empty the bid. In. the fall„you. may
wish to extend -the .sides
temporarily to, boost the bin cap-
acity; by March the compost
should settle as much as 2 feet.
• The sides should not be airtight or
watertight.
Build your compost pile by
spreading.out-a--layer-ot plant, -re--
- fuse about 6 inches deep across
the floor of your bin. Add one-half
to one pound of regular lawn fer-
tilizer (1-1-1 or 1-2-1 are recom-
mended fertilizer ratios.. for this
not soak mixture. Repeat this pro-
cess as bin is. tilled. Make the top
of the pile concave to catch rain-
water. If you desire an lalkaline
compost, add ground limestone
(about 1/2 to 2/3 cup) to each
• layer as you add fertilizer. The de-
caying action will proceed most
• rapidl'y during warm weather. Ap-
plication of lime and fertilizer, in
addition to adding plant nutrients
to the mixture, also hastens
organic matter breakdown to form
humus mixture. You can' further
accelerate decay during midsum-
mer by torking•over the pile.,help-
ing to evenly distribute moisture,
and aerate the pile.
if you begin your conhposr pile
in the fall it should be ready tor
use by the -end--Of t.he_tirst-sum.mcr_.
Youmayinsure a-cont-inui-ng-com--
post supply by starting a new pile
J
Seedlings need T.L.C.
Organization and careful
preparation before transplanting
seedlings can. help ensure a
healthy garden, says T. J. Blom,
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food horticulturist.
"First, remove stones and
debris from the garden. Next,
loosen the soil and poke holes for
the transplants.”
7);d mg pre -we te—fic peat mosso
the. holes before transplanting
will give the plants a good start.
Mr.—Blom says it is best to
transplant seedlings at night.
Water seedlings several hours
before transplanting. •
When ready to transplant,
gently tap the sides of the pot to
remove the plant.
"Keep the roots and soil
together as much as possible,
then put the roots in the new hole
and pat the soil around them."
After ,transplanting, Mr. Blom
recommends watering as needed
and fertilizing after two or three
days.
_ "One-half to one pound of
reguiar ferU it icr per 1110 square
feet of garden. space. should be
adequate."
Provide cucumbers, squash,
tomatoes, and melons with up to
four square feet of space. Cab-
bage, peppers, broccoli, and
brussels sprouts require less
space.
each year.
Compost can he used as a.
mulch—covering bare ground
next to flowers and vegetables in
the garden—or as an addition to
-soil by working it in with a spade
or shovel.
Compost will not take the place
of fertilizer, but it does .aid in
maintaining loose. easily -worked
soil for favorable roo*growth. '
Page 17
Beat the High Cost
of Small Engine Repair
WE WILL TUNE UP
YOUR
LAWN -MOWER
OR
GARDEN TILLER
For Only $ 14.
(Parts Extra)
Until May 12
INCLUDES:
Clean and adjust carburetor, check
ignition, change oil, clean air filter,
adjust and olI up all controls, shar-
pen and balance blades.
PICK-UP AND DELIVERY CAN IkE,ARRANGED
NEW EQUIPMENT IN STOCK I
Canadian made Grand Prix
LAWN MOWERS
3 -HP TILLERS
Roper 8 h.p. - Electric Start
LAWN TRACTORS
$120. uAND
P
$250•'
SLO95.
USED MOTORCYCLES
1973 CT -70 HONDA
1974 175 HONDA
We service what we sell
5250
•
$450.
HANK'S
SMALL ENGINE SALES & SERVICE
7 mile north of Londesboro 523-9202
HIGHWAY NO. 4
SWIMMING POOL OWNERS
SWIMMING
POOL
CLINIC
Saturday May 5, 1979
Mr. Bob Jorden of Lawrason Chemicals, London, will be in the store all day to answer
your questions about your swimming pool.
FREE COFFEE & DOUGHNUTS
Come and see the Sun and H.T.H. swimming pool chemicals and discuss your problems
with an expert.
In SAYINGS TIME
or Sprung Gardeners
AERO LAWN & GARDEN FERTILIZER
12-6-6-40 LBS. covers 5,000 sq. ft.
10-10-10 33.33 k.g
10-6-4 with KILLEX
10-6-4 with 2-4-D
$495
•
$725
•
•
$ 689
•
Free delivery - Free Spreader
C.I.L. Paint - Garant Garden Tools, Lawn & Garden Seed, Fishing Tackle
Itis _ &�iiiti;
('HAl2GF.x
ti/SAMINN
�
Tag!: eM,q
84 KINGSTON ST.
HARDWARE
(Formerly H.O. Jerry Ltd.)
524-9671
GODERICH