Growing with Nature’s Best: Composting Made Simply Good

Growing a garden isn’t always easy…

But it can be simple.

When you first take up gardening, you’ve got a vision.  Maybe you’re looking for a yard that erupts in gorgeous fragrant flowers every spring.  Perhaps you’re more of an herbs & veggies kind of person (we see you, foodie!).  Maybe you just want the trees and bushes in your yard to look good.

If you’re like most folks these days, you turn to two sources for information on how to get this whole plant growing thing right.  Naturally, your first stop is the internet, and then perhaps you follow up with that friend or family member who seems like they were just born with a green thumb.

The problem is everyone – and we do mean everyone – has their own opinion on how you should garden.  Raised beds, weird pots, special fertilizers, meticulously specific watering schedules, harvesting do’s & don’ts, to pest control or not… and sometimes, the information you find just doesn’t make sense. 

Before you know it, you’re feeling overwhelmed and in way over your head. 

How does anyone do this???

Take a breath, dear gardener.  We’ve got your back.

We might be professional plant parents, but plants are a lot more like people than you realize.  People and plants all need the same basic things: nutritious food, water, a bit of sunlight (wear your sunscreen!), and some good old-fashioned tender love & care.

Gardening isn’t always easy; nature sometimes throws you a curveball.   But on the whole, this process doesn’t need to be a headache. 

Getting Back to the Roots

Let’s go through a checklist of the basics together.  No headaches or TMI, guaranteed.

Sunlight

Every plant has a preferred amount of sunlight.  A quick google search will tell you what your plant likes. 

No clue what your plant is?  Apps like Seek or even a google image search will help you identify your leafy friend.

Try your plant in a spot for a couple weeks and watch the leaves.  If the leaves stay green and even seem to stretch toward the light, you’re golden! 

If the leaves turn brown, develop red splotches or veins, or get crispy, that’s too much light. 

If the leaves are yellow and droopy, it probably needs more sun.

Trees give you a little more room for error, since they tend to be hardier than the average plant.  Still, try and place your tree in a spot that meets its preferred light exposure. Tough doesn’t mean invincible.

See? Simple.

Location

Plants also have preferred climates.  Some are biologically built to handle tropical weather best, while others handle arid desert climates beautifully.  Some are more cold tolerant than others. 

A quick internet search of your plant’s USDA Zone will show you where your plant naturally handles climate best.  If you’re plant shopping, reach for plants that are inclined to favor your zone.

Out of zone plants can thrive in your care, but it’s a little more of a challenge.  They may require special care, such as being kept indoors or more frequent watering.

Water

Lots of people get really hung up on how to water their plants.  With all the weird gadgets, internet hacks, and seemingly conflicting information, no wonder you’re confused.

Remember that sunlight and zone information you just looked up?  That serves as a guide to watering your plant. 

Does your plant like partial shade and prefer tropical climates?  It probably loves soil that stays damp most of the time (like in a rainforest) and likes to be watered thoroughly once or twice a week.

Does your plant like lots of sun and prefer midwestern desert climates?  Great, it probably prefers to be watered thoroughly (like a naturally occurring flash flood) once a week or every two weeks, with soil that gets soaked all the way through. 

You get the idea.

Try a watering schedule and keep an eye on your plant. 

Saggy yellow leaves?  Too much water.

Droopy or crispy leaves? Needs water.

Now, for the Topic of the Day…

Soil, Fertilizer, & Compost: Oh My!

Soil, fertilizer, and compost are, functionally, a plant’s “diet.”  While they require sunlight and water to survive, good soil composition is what enables thriving.  Let’s break it down.

Soil

Say it with us: Well Draining Soil.

That’s it. That’s all you need. 

Going to your local home improvement store’s gardening section is more than enough to find something to suit your needs.  A general tree & shrub soil for trees & shrubs, potting mix for potted plants, or succulent mix for desert plants will work just fine.

If you’re planting in a pot, make sure it’s got drainage holes.

For grounded plants, make sure the location you pick doesn’t see standing water after rain.

Ta Da! Soil is easy.

Fertilizer & Compost

Fertilizer is typically a chemical agent used like a vitamin supplement for plants.  It’s not great for the environment, but if your plant is struggling, fertilizer in moderation is a really helpful tool.  Slow release fertilizers are always our suggestion.

Organic fertilizers are also great!  But, our favorite source of natural nutrients for our leafy companions will always be: compost.

Yep! Smelly, dirty, decaying compost.

Compost is a mixture of natural debris.  You can make you own from all kinds of sources, like soil, leaves, detritus, and even produce food scraps (think eggshells, fruit rinds, veggie scraps, coffee grounds).  As these organic components decompose, they release their last remaining nutrients into the soil, alongside beneficial bacteria and fungi. 

Adding compost to your soil as you plant is a great way to give you garden or yard a natural boost of nutrients. 

We do it on the farm by allowing decaying magnolia leaves to remain around the root ball of our trees.  As the leaves deteriorate, they release their nutrients back into the soil for the tree to absorb.  This practice helps us reduce the amount of fertilizers we need to maintain our healthy groves, and as a result, we’re able to garden more sustainably!

The tree’s own decaying material helps support its future growth.  In a way, this practice is beautifully symbolic of the circle of life.

Want to Start Composting?

Easy!

Whether it’s in a pile in the far corner of your yard, or in a container that lives behind your house, composting is so wonderfully simple – just like the rest of gardening!

Combine soil with yard detritus and organic food scraps.  “Organic” here does not mean your produce has to be organic; we mean organic material, like fruits, veggies, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, etc.  Don’t go throwing your plastics or processed foods into your compost. 

Pet owners, you can incorporate your pet’s droppings into your compost as well.  Manure is extremely nutrient dense for plants!  Leave the litter behind, though.  Only dung goes into the compost.

If you can, add some earthworms to the pile.  They’ll help break things down without becoming a pest problem.

Turn over your compost mixture once or twice a month.  Basically, stir the compost to introduce air.  Decomposition releases gas, so you can expect this to have an odor (that’s why you’ll store this outside). 

You may notice weeds or other things sprout in your soil. Don’t panic, that just means you’ve got some great compost!  Pull out the unwanted plant by the roots, and either discard it or plant it elsewhere. 

Your compost is ready for use when most of everything in it appears to be broken down and generally unrecognizable.  Depending on the size of your compost pile, this could take a few weeks to a few months.  At that point, the compost should be the color and texture of really dark soil.  Add compost around the base of your plants in the spring and summer, or introduce it to the soil as you’re planting a new friend. 

Happy Composting!