18 - Friday, January 17, 1992 - North Shore News HOME & GARDEN Easy ways to reduce debris AS CONCERN for the en- vironment continues to grow, homeowners every- where are stepping up their recycling efforts around the home and in the yard. The solution? Mulching and compesting. Mulching and composting are two easy methods of recycling that homeowners can rely on to dras- tically reduce the amount of yard debris dumped in public landfills, while helping develop healthy soil for their lawns and gardens. Healthy, conditioned soil is essential to successful gardening. Whether it’s creating a new lawn or garden or maintaining an ex- isting one, the recipe for success is as simple as getting back to basics. In many gardens, adding a mulch may be the only step neces- sary to keep things in balance. Composed of organic or in- organic materials such as wood chips, bark, straw and _ gravel, mulch cushions plants against the adverse effects of the wind, sun and rain. It moderates soil temperatures, deters weeds and improves the overall soil structure. The mulch acts as a protective cover for the soil and roots. When mixed into the soil, mulch in- troduces important nutrients that promote root growth. During dry spells, mulches help protect the soil from the evaporative effects COMPLETE BEDROOM SUITES . 79 Armoire *349 4 Poster Bed "999 weg aie) ‘449 Night Table of sun and wind, and keeps the soil from drying out and hard- ening. Ideally, mulch should be loose and airy when placed over the soil, rather than compacted. Less compaction means healthier roots and a more active exchange of water and food beneath the soil. In the event of heavy rains, mulch also prevents the leaching of plant nutrients, and reduces the effects of soil erosion. Where mulch is primarily used as a top-dressing, compost is con- sidered one of the ultimate soil conditioners. Compost is made from just about anything organic, such as vegetable and fruit rinds, hedge trimmings, sawdust, leaves, eggshells, etc. Avoid using fatty meat scraps and similar waste as it decomposes at a slower rate, creates odor and often attracts dogs and rodents to your compost pile. Because smaller pieces com- post faster, it is also wise to avoid material thicker than one-quarter inch. Once the materials are gathered, the simplest way to make compost is in a pile or in special bins designed specifically for com- posting. But whether you choose a pile or a bin, it is important to select a convenient, well-drained spot without direct sunlight for maximum composting action. The best compost piles are formed in layers. Start with a bet- tom layer of brush to support the From only From only WARDROBES ( ca size) °699 oe CENTRES "309 pile and help aerate it. Continue adding alternating, but equal layers of slow-decaying material such as leaves, woodchips, sawdust and fast-decaying mate- tials such as grass clippings and food wastes. Then, add a compost activator and a two-inch each layer of garden soil. Remember to moisten each layer thoroughly as it is added to speed the decom- position process. Making great compost, howev- er, is not as simple as just using the right ingredients. As the com- post begins to break down and create heat, care must be taken to systematically turn the pile. Turn- ing the compost with a pitchfork or aerator tool every few days moves composted material away from the center of the pile, and replaces it with partially com- posted material. This process also allows the opportunity to add more shredded green and dry mat- ter. When mixed into the planting bed or lawn, finished compost has the ability to hold nutrients in the soil like a sponge and release them slowly as needed to hungry plants. 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