tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782229675041595952Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:18:43 +0000Gardening Winston Hillshttp://gardeningwinstonhills.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Zeal Group)Blogger1125The Zeal Grouptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782229675041595952.post-1305443204556667495Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:20:00 +00002011-08-04T04:41:32.094-07:00Effective Composting<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Zeal Group</span></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTmwgVjEVJ4STERKSxa4UTCDvI3PlSGnP8GKiwhZdrQWHBc347C" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTmwgVjEVJ4STERKSxa4UTCDvI3PlSGnP8GKiwhZdrQWHBc347C" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><b>What is composting?</b></span></span></td> <td></td> </tr><tr> <td><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Composting is nature’s own recycling program. In time, organisms will break down the ingredients listed below into rich, dark crumbly compost - nature’s own nutrient-rich fertiliser.</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does composting work and how long does it take?</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Natural composting, or decomposition, occurs all the time in nature. Home composting generally takes two months or more. The more you turn and mix the contents - adding air in the process - the more rapid the composting action will be.</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The right conditions include</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the right ratio of nitrogen to carbon - equal amounts of ‘greens’ (kitchen scraps) for nitrogen and ‘browns’ (fallen leaves and woody material) for carbon</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the right amount of water (feels like a damp sponge)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">good drainage (to remove excess moisture)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enough oxygen (turned often)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can you compost at home?</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vegetable and fruit scraps</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fallen leaves</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grass clippings</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finely chipped branches</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Used vegetable cooking oil</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tea leaves, tea bags</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffee grounds</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vacuum cleaner dust</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Egg shells</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheets of newspaper</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paper bags</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shredded paper</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can’t you compost?</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Metal, plastic, glass</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meat and dairy products (attract rodents)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Large branches</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bones</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plant bulbs (need specialised treatment)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Droppings of meat-eating animals (e.g. dogs)</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grubs in your compost?</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes in compost bins there are many segmented brown grubs. These are the larvae of the beneficial Soldier Fly. They are not pests, nor will they cause health problems.</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mulches</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mulches can prevent up to 73% evaporation loss and they are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make the most of water in the garden.</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best mulch is a well-rotted compost which will also improve the soil structure and stimulate the biological life of the soil. Place the mulch away from the trunk to prevent collar rot.</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not apply mulch more than 75-100 mm in thickness or water may not easily penetrate into the soil.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></td> <td></td> </tr><tr> <td></td> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3782229675041595952-1305443204556667495?l=gardeningwinstonhills.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?i=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:-BTjWOF_DHI" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?i=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?i=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:KwTdNBX3Jqk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?i=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:KwTdNBX3Jqk" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:l6gmwiTKsz0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=l6gmwiTKsz0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?i=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?a=046E_cDCB9k:y00eUpV1pa0:TzevzKxY174"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GardeningWinstonhills?d=TzevzKxY174" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GardeningWinstonhills/~4/046E_cDCB9k" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GardeningWinstonhills/~3/046E_cDCB9k/test.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (www.propertymaintenance.net.au)0http://gardeningwinstonhills.blogspot.com/2011/08/test.htmlen-usThe Zeal Groupwww.propertymaintenance.net.aunonadult