Can i compost bedding plants

The price might be attractive, but is it the right product for potting and repotting, seed sowing or taking cuttings? In the UK it is used for growing media as well as to composts used to improve soil in the open ground, while in the US compost refers only the latter. Tree and shrub planting compost is used for soil improvement, not for growing in pots. Even the people selling it are confused by this and often give the wrong advice.

You must never use garden soil in pots and containers, no matter what you are growing or how good your soil is. Micro-organisms, spores, invertebrates, and weed seeds that are harmless in the open ground can cause problems in the confined environment of a pot. Always use a specially formulated growing medium. So called multi-purpose potting mixes should be useable for everything from seed sowing to mature plant potting.

Because today many contain peat substitutes, such as green waste, paper waste and wood fibre they may not be suitable for seeds and very young plants. Check the packaging for recommendations. It is best to use a specific seed compost, especially for fine seeds. A seed compost is low in nutrients, so it does not impede germination or delicate new root development.

Growing media are often price promoted. The cheaper options often contain cheaper ingredients and less base fertilizer: in other words the time they can supply plants with adequate nutrients is shorter. Most contain enough feed for 4 — 6 weeks before supplementary feeding is required.

Cheaper composts will be more like 4 weeks. So what about weeds? Actually, weed foliage is great for adding to the pile. The plants break down and add valuable nutrients to a compost pile. But only add weeds that do not have a seed head. Or, remove the seed head before adding to the pile. We even add wood chips to the pile if we happen to have extra from a tree or branches down.

You can even get them for free many times from local tree companies in the area. Consult Costa Mesa tree maintenance experts for more info as a great local resource. But it just always seemed like such a waste of good organic material. And so a few years back, we added an extra compost pile to the mix. We use our secondary compost when planting trees, shrubs and perennials, and to even top-dress our lawn.

Not only is it a better choice than burning, it saves tremendously on using our main compost for the garden. It is just one more way to use everything you have on hand to have a more self-sufficient, organic life. Here is to composting with success — and to keeping you compost pile healthy and strong!

Happy Gardening — Jim and Mary. As always, feel free to email us at thefarm owgarden. To receive our 3 Home, Garden, Recipe and Simple Life articles each week, sign up for our free email list that is located in the middle of this article. Fluff from tumble driers Old bedding plants Pencil sharpenings Woody prunings Shred them or cut them up really small.

Nail clippings Gross but true. Egg shells Neither green nor brown but they will leach calcium to your plants. Used tissues Apple cores You won't kill the seeds but nobody minds a few apple trees. Seaweed Dead-headings Envelopes Take out the plastic windows and scrunch them up to trap air. Cardboard packaging Urine Great compost activator.

Wooden toothpicks Old cut flowers Pet bedding If your pet's a vegetarian, put droppings and natural-fibre bedding in. Toilet and kitchen roll tubes Leave them whole, there's air inside. Potato peelings Could spread potato blight but unlikely. Leave out if you're concerned. Evergreen prunings Natural fibre clothing Best put over the compost heap in winter and left to rot down.

Use in moderation. Coffee grounds Orange peel Too acidic for wormeries but okay for ordinary compost bins. Till receipts Paper bags Leftover salad Even with a dressing on it, it's okay. Hay Straw Fallen leaves Strictly speaking you should compost these separately to make leafmold but you can use in moderation if you're short of browns.