Each garden plot contains many different trees and shrubs. And each of them sheds leaves in the fall. In addition, after harvesting, whole heaps of plant waste remain. What to do with all this wealth? Some gardeners just send them with the trash, some burn them. Both decisions are wrong. All these components can be used for composting. However, many find reasons not to start a lawsuit with its preparation. One of the reasons is the lack of space to build a pit or a piece of land for a heap. But it turns out that humus can be prepared in bags.
Before considering how to make leafy humus in bags, you should understand the general concepts.
Compost is an artificial fertilizer made from tree leaves and plant waste.
Pros and cons of leaf compost
What are the benefits of compost? It is difficult to answer this question in one sentence. To understand its importance in agriculture, you should list its main advantages.
- the preparation of humus relieves the gardener from the problems of removing garden plant waste, as well as some food waste;
- no cost required. All components are right under your feet in the garden area;
- it is an environmentally friendly fertilizer that is saturated with micronutrients and humus;
- after adding it to the soil, it becomes loose and air-permeable. In other words, the soil begins to “breathe”;
- compost-saturated soil retains moisture well;
- can function as mulch. If it is enough, then they can evenly cover a certain section of the garden. Its presence in the beds does not allow weeds to germinate and retains the moisture of the plant root system;
- humus lying in the beds attracts birds, and sometimes hedgehogs, which rid plants of harmful insects or slugs;
- beneficial bacteria and fungi multiply in it, which contribute to the decomposition of organic components. In it, worms are bred, which loosen the earth on the one hand, and on the other, can be used for fishing;
- saves the gardener to look for a place for burning;
- a natural product that saves the gardener from oversaturation of his site with all kinds of chemical fertilizers.
The disadvantages include:
- some leaves with flat shapes are endowed with the property of caking with each other into a dense mass, which complicates the process of decay;
- rapid evaporation of moisture. Water the compost frequently to ensure decomposition.
Having familiarized yourself with the advantages of compost, you can try to understand the technology of its production.
Technology for preparing leaf humus in bags
Fallen leaves of trees are the main component for manufacturing. It is recommended to prepare compost in the following sequence.
Selection and procurement of components
Cooking ingredients can include foliage, grass cuttings, small tree branches and other plant waste. The preparation technology is the same for all methods of its laying, including the preparation in bags.
Leaves can be harvested with a hand fan rake. This rake does not damage the stems and roots of plants. Where there are no shrubs and trees, it is better to collect foliage with a lawn fan rake. Garden vacuum cleaners are widely used for collection.
They can operate in suction and blow mode. When working in the suction mode, the leaves are drawn by the vacuum cleaner into a special collection that is included in the vacuum cleaner kit. In blowing mode, leaves can be collected in separate piles. The advantage of the vacuum cleaner is that before sending the leaves to the collection, it crushes it. Finally, if leaves need to be picked from large lawns, it is best to use a lawn mower.
Avid gardeners buy their own lawn mowers or vacuum cleaners. These mechanisms are very beneficial because they grind the food and collect it in special collections, consisting of a bag or basket. This frees the gardener from the physical labor of transferring to a specific place.
Shredding
The leaves must be shredded before composting. If they are collected with a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower, then they are already crushed. If the leaves are harvested in another way, then a special leaf shredder called a mulcher can be used to grind them.
Composting material
The collected and crushed foliage is laid in places where the compost will mature. This can be a pit, a fenced-in compost heap, or free-standing bins or heavy-duty plastic bags.
The collected leaves are placed in the selected containers and lightly tamped.
Before you start laying the future humus in a bag, a layer from the top of the soil should be laid on its bottom. The bag is then filled with other components.
To speed up the decay process, there must be enough moisture inside the bag. In addition, moisture must be maintained throughout the entire ripening period. Given these circumstances, the plastic bags should not be tied but left open. If autumn or spring is too dry, it is recommended to moisten the leaves inside the bag with water.
Garden compost bags can be purchased at any gardening store. They must necessarily be black and dense.
You cannot use as components for a bookmark:
- remains from animals: droppings, small bones and other meat waste;
- use freshly cut and perennial weeds, as well as the remnants of the root system of plants;
- waste of diseased plants;
- fresh manure;
- waste containing toxic substances and toxins.
Adding nitrogen
It is recommended to add nitrogen-rich plants to the bag to speed up decay. Such plants include lawn grass, nettles, comfrey and others. If, after the lapse of time, signs of decay do not appear in the compost, then nitrogen biological products should be added to its composition.
Maturation
The compost prepared in this way is left in open maturation bags.
The decay time can be from 1 to 2 years, depending on weather conditions.
To create uniform conditions for decay, it is recommended to mix the compost several times during maturation.
Production attachments
Manufacturers have set up many composting devices. However, their use is beneficial only on large farms. In such organizations, composts are produced in large volumes, and the use of small equipment is not rational.
For the preparation of humus in individual summer cottages, as well as in cramped conditions, it is enough to use those devices that have already been recalled in this article.
Such devices include:
- fan and lawn rakes – they are intended for collection;
- garden vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers – used for collection and shredding;
- mulchers – intended for shredding.
Most gardeners know that the soil depletes over time, which means that you should not expect a good harvest on such lands. Therefore, soil fertility should be increased annually. It will take several years to improve the soil.
Thus, compost in bags will save every gardener money and will maintain soil fertility every year.