Organic fertilizer or compost is made of natural materials aimed to enrich the soil on your garden. By applying the mixture, the soil gains nutrients, which are then absorbed by the plants. The plants, in turn, get much nourishment, prompting them to be healthier and look more robust. Organic fertilizer is clearly an integral component of any garden. You should know how to prepare it, so your garden will surely flourish.
Components
Organic fertilizer is composed of five elements, all of which play a certain role in producing nutrients for garden soil. You will need a compost bin, where the necessary physical and chemical reactions will take place, en route to forming the organic fertilizer. Here are the elements:
- green layer (produces nitrogen)
- brown layer (produces carbon)
- air
- water
- a dash of garden soil
The materials are easy to gather. All of them are readily available, in fact, you can assemble them in just a few minutes.
The Compost Bin
The compost bin must be sizable, so it can create enough fertilizer for your entire garden. Its ideal dimensions are one cubic yard by one cubic meter. Choose or construct a container is fairly deep, preferably with cover and small openings for air. The bin should be sturdily built, for it to withstand the chemical reactions that will take place inside.
Assemble the Green Layer
The green layer, being the fertilizer’s source of nitrogen, is tasked to trap heat, which will trigger the development of nutrients from the other components. Materials include chicken manure, coffee grounds, tea leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, and plant and grass cuttings. Pile them together upon collection.
Assemble the Brown Layer
The brown layer is the compost’s source of the fiber. They are the main reactants when the green layer produces heat. Materials include egg shells, dead plants, weeds, wilted flowers, sawdust, cardboard, hay, straw and other similar items.
Composting
Upon assembling the green and brown layers, scatter them inside the compost bin following this formula - three parts brown layer to one part green. Make sure that the components of both layers are well distributed. Splash some water after placing a set of green and brown components then add soil. Repeat the process until all the materials are inside the bin. Mix the compost daily and add water. Eventually, the mixture will decompose, which gives off a strong odor.
Application
Upon decomposition, apply a layer of organic fertilizer on your garden. Spread the layer neatly and evenly. Not before long, the garden soil will become richer. Your garden plants will then reward you with strong and colorful blooms. As for the unused portion of the compost, store it inside the bin. Continue mixing and watering to extend the fertilizer’s useful life. You can even mix it with a new batch of compost materials.
