Compost is the best fertilizer for any plant. It is indispensable in the garden, as it is not only natural, but also the most useful. Absolutely every gardener wants to increase his crop several times, using as little money and effort as possible.
Introduction
Using compost as a natural fertilizer, you can ensure proper care of your plants and dispose of almost all household waste that is on the site: leaves, grass, dry branches from trees and shrubs, and so on.
To start composting, you need to choose the right place and capacity in which it will be stored. One of the easiest options is to dig a large hole. But it will look unnatural on your site. The best option is to either buy a ready-made composter in any building market, or make it from improvised means. But not everyone knows how to make a composter for a summer residence with their own hands. In this article, we will learn how to make it ourselves, discuss some storage conditions and talk about the advantages of this equipment.
Composting Conditions
Any household waste that will be used for compost should only decompose naturally. That is, the use of chemicals to accelerate decomposition is strictly prohibited. One of the main advantages of compost is the natural substances that form in it. Due to the fact that the compost will decompose independently, it will retain all the useful elements that are needed for your plants. Another such country compost will help save money and maximize the yield. It is necessary to install it away from residential facilities, since the smell that it forms is not pleasant.
Compost Composition
In order to get a better fertilizer, you need to figure out what to add to it. And the ingredients in the country compost are as follows:
- Finely mowed grass, leaves, branches from trees or shrubs, as well as food waste that forms organic nitrogen when decomposed. It is these elements that increase the natural composition of your fertilizer.
- It is also recommended to use tree bark, straw or other dry plants that enrich compost with the necessary amount of carbon.
- Oxygen mainly contributes to the decay of organic substances. If you block the air in the composter, the fertilizer will not be of high quality. This means that you need to make several holes for oxygen access.
- Do not forget about the liquid in the compost. Without proper moisture, the decomposition process slows down significantly, resulting in a lack of nutrients.
In order for compost for summer residence to be of the highest quality and bring more benefits to plants, it is necessary to periodically mix the entire mixture. Thus, it will be enriched with oxygen. Do not forget to water it with water.
What is a summer cottage composter?
Composter is a special facility in which household waste, leaves or plant debris are βstoredβ. The most important thing is the cover with small holes, which will enrich the fertilizer with the necessary amount of oxygen. To save a little space on your site, you can purchase a budget version of the composter or make it yourself using an old cabinet, pallets or other materials.
If any metal containers are used instead of wooden products, the process of over-ripening can be significantly accelerated, since the fertilizer will be wetter and densely packed.
Widespread patterns
Ready-made composters not only have a beautiful aesthetic appearance, but also they can be placed in any free place in your garden. Factory models differ both in shape (there are square and cone-shaped), and material (plastic, wood and metal).
- Thermo-King manufacturers equip their models with a warmed case. A well-thought-out and very convenient design provides a higher quality fertilizer. Thermo-King plastic composters have a sufficiently high strength and additional protection against ultraviolet light.
- Biolan. Most summer residents choose this brand because of a special composter with a volume of two hundred liters. The sealed bottom of this model provides maximum thermal insulation, and a large lid with a hatch is very convenient for laying organic waste. Such a composter can be used not only in the warm season, but also in the cold. The plastic from which this model was made has frost-resistant properties and for a long time keeps the temperature inside.
The choice of composter needs to be taken seriously. You need to determine in advance which model to choose, or find out which brand speaks best.
What are the criteria for choosing a composter?
First you need to find out what functions the necessary composter should perform:
- If only food waste will be processed, then the most optimal option is a composter for giving 100 liters. For food waste a lot of space is not required.
- If the site is very large and other garbage will be filled up with food waste, it is best to purchase a composter for giving Volnusha for 1000 liters or more. That is, everything is simple here: a little waste - a small composter, a lot of garbage - a big one.
Be sure to fully understand the device before buying. The presence of peat in the composter is considered a big plus, so it is better to purchase it than to do it yourself.
Homemade Composter
Many people think about how you can make a composter for a summer house with your own hands. The first step is to find building materials. It can be old furniture or wooden pallets. The composter must meet your requirements, that is, have the preferred volume and convenient design.
One of the easiest options is to dig a large hole. Its length should be at least 1 meter wide and 1.5 meters deep. But a humidification system must also be considered for such a pit so that the compost is moist and has constant access to oxygen. A thin film will serve as a humidification system, which will completely close the pit and form condensate, and access to oxygen will be ensured by a pipe with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters, which will be laid below or installed on top.
If, nevertheless, you dug a hole and installed ventilation with a humidifying system, then do not rush to immediately throw the whole mixture. It is best to make several layers and place peat between them, which will serve as a laying.
Nevertheless, a composter made of building materials will have a more aesthetic and presentable appearance. For example, garden composters for a brick house will look more beautiful near farm buildings, and not in the center of the garden. Also, the use of bricks is convenient for creating a two-section structure. But brick or plastic is not as frost-resistant as we would like, therefore, to insulate the composter, you need to consider additional protection against frost. For this purpose, for example, polyurethane foam or foam.
Composters for summer cottages. Reviews
The choice of a summer cottage composter depends only on your preferences and financial capabilities. Purchased products have not only a guarantee, but also do not need repair for a long time. The most important thing is to choose the right volume and design. Plastic composters for a summer residence do not have as many positive reviews as wooden or metal ones. Plastic models are less durable and not as frost-resistant as others, so they are considered the most budget option.
If you want to get the most high-quality compost, then buy models made of metal or resinous wood. Although a home-made composter will save a lot of your money, you should also not forget about the physical efforts that will be required to create it.
The most important thing is that the composter is not only convenient, but also durable enough.